Virat Kohli completed 9,000 IPL runs against Delhi Capitals on Monday, finishing with back-to-back sixes. His next target is the special milestone of 10,000 IPL games, which is still far away for other current players, even those in the top five. While Kohli is already 37, raising some questions about longevity, former New Zealand pacer Mitchell McClenaghan believes he has no doubt he can achieve the feat.Mitchell McClenaghan praised Virat Kohli for his outstanding consistency after Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Delhi Capitals by nine wickets in IPL 2026.RCB registered an emphatic win at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday thanks to a sizzling new-ball spell from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, who dismantled Delhi’s batting line-up and bowled them out for just 75 runs, their lowest total of the season. The chase was completed with ease, highlighting RCB’s all-round supremacy.Speaking on JioHotstar, McClenaghan reflected on Kohli’s continued excellence in the tournament, highlighting the discipline and adaptability that have characterized the veteran batsman’s career over the years.“Virat Kohli’s performance has been very consistent. Scoring 9000 runs in the IPL against the best bowlers in the world is not an easy feat. It’s about hunger, discipline and adaptation every year and that’s what brings out the best in him. He has been playing in the IPL since 2008 and the best part is that he didn’t start his career as an opener. He batted in the lower middle order, fought for his place and then moved up to No. 3. Later, he played with Chris Starting Gael together. It completely changed the way he played. There is no doubt that he will reach 10,000 runs soon. Kohli is the greatest batsman of all time in the IPL, not just because of his runs but also because of his development and dominance in different eras. “McClenaghan told JioStar.
| rank | player | team | total number of runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 9,012 |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers | 7,183 |
| 3 | Shikhar Dhawan | PBKS, DC, SRH, MI, Deccan charger | 6,769 |
| 4 | David Warner | Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad | 6,565 |
| 5 | Kuala Lumpur Rahul | Delhi Capitals, LSG, PBKS, RCB, SRH | 5,580 |
“Instead of reinventing the ball, he’s been doing the same thing, over and over again, and he’s just gotten better at it. The break from international cricket now helps him structure his time better throughout the year. He’s had enough time to get fit and stay fresh. He’s experienced enough and knows how to deal with pressure situations. It’s just about being able to do what you’ve always done. This means hitting the ball in those areas that are most troublesome for hitters and controlling the swing, as we’re seeing now. That’s why his new ball always makes a huge impact,” he added.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) upcoming matches:
| date | they will object | site | Time (standard time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 30 | gujarat titans | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 7:30pm |
| May 7 | Lucknow Super Giants | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 7:30pm |
| May 10 | mumbai indians | Raipur Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium | 7:30pm |
| May 13 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Raipur Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium | 7:30pm |
| May 17 | punjab kings | Dharamshala HPCA Stadium | 3:30 pm |
| May 22 | Sunriser Hotel Hyderabad | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad | 7:30pm |
