Kohli Breaks T20 Record, Surpasses Sharma's Milestone

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-04-06

So, here's the thing about cricket records—they're made to be broken, but some feel like they'll last forever. That's exactly what Virat Kohli just did. On Sunday, April 5, 2026, he went out and rewrote the history books. He didn't just break a record; he shattered a long-standing benchmark set by his contemporary, Rohit Sharma. Kohli, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) superstar, now holds the title for the most runs scored against a single opponent in T20 cricket history. He did it in a high-stakes match against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The atmosphere must have been electric. ### How Kohli Claimed the Top Spot He only needed two runs. Can you believe that? Just two runs to overtake Sharma's total of 1,161 runs against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Kohli, opening the batting, wasted absolutely no time. He got those two runs within the first six balls of the innings. Talk about seizing the moment. He went on to score 28 runs off just 18 deliveries before being dismissed. That quickfire innings was enough. It pushed his career total against CSK to 1,188 runs, officially putting him in first place. It's a testament to his incredible focus and consistency against a top-tier rival. This wasn't a fluke. It's the result of 37 T20 matches against Chennai in the IPL. Over those years, he's racked up ten scores of fifty or more against them. That's not just skill; it's a mental fortress he's built. ### The Unique Nature of This Achievement What makes this record even more special for Kohli? He's done it all for one team. Every single one of those 1,188 runs was scored wearing the RCB jersey. In contrast, Rohit Sharma accumulated his runs against KKR while playing for two different franchises. It speaks to a rare kind of loyalty and longevity in the modern game. While Sharma's record was impressive, Kohli's feat has a unique narrative of steadfast performance for a single club. And he's not done. He also sits third on the list for most runs against a single team, with 1,159 runs against the Punjab Kings. ### A Record-Breaking 2026 Season This is just one highlight in what's shaping up to be a monumental year for Virat Kohli. Let's look at what else he's accomplished: - He became the highest run-scorer among all Asian players in T20 history, passing Shoaib Malik. - He's the first player in IPL history to score over 4,000 runs specifically in second-innings run chases. That's clutch performance. - He's now scored over 2,500 runs at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. He and Rohit Sharma are the only players to score that many at a single venue. It's like he's ticking off a personal checklist of cricketing greatness. One writer put it well: 'Records are milestones on the road of a champion's journey.' Kohli's journey in 2026 is proving to be a masterclass. In the end, the match itself was historic. RCB posted a massive 250/3 and secured their fourth straight win over CSK. But the headline belonged to King Kohli. With 1,188 runs, he now stands alone at the summit, having surpassed a rival's milestone in a display of pure, concentrated brilliance. It makes you wonder what record he'll target next.