Kohli Hits Century, Bhuvneshwar Leads Purple Cap Race

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-05-14

Virat Kohli led the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a win against Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets on May 13. In a record-breaking match, King Kohli scored an unbeaten 105 runs from 60 balls and climbed to the third position in the IPL 2026 Orange Cap race. He achieved some major milestones making him the highest run scorer in IPL history. Meanwhile, his teammate Bhuvneshwar Kumar also got a wicket in the same game and remains at the top of the Purple Cap charts. This win took RCB to the top of the points table with 16 points from 12 matches. ### Virat Kohli Returns to Form with Record Century Virat Kohli played a masterclass to chase a competitive target of 193 runs. Before this match, the veteran batter had bowled out twice for 0 runs. However, he bounced back in Raipur by hitting four boundaries in one over against Vaibhav Arora. Consequently, he reached his fifty in just 32 balls and continued to dominate both pace and spin bowlers throughout the evening. The pitch is his canvas. The bat is his brush. The runs are his art. Kohli eventually scored his ninth hundred in IPL history. This achievement moves him two clear of Jos Buttler. Additionally, he finished the game with 105 runs. His innings included 11 boundaries and 3 sixes. Kohli now has 484 runs in the 2026 season from 12 matches, which puts him third in the Orange Cap leaderboard. ### Milestone Moments for the "Chase-Master" The "Chase master" Kohli became the first Indian cricketer to cross 14,000 runs in T20 cricket. He achieved this milestone with a boundary off Sunil Narine in the 16th over. Moreover, he played his 279th game of the IPL, surpassing MS Dhoni for the most matches played in the history of the league. Consequently, the night turned out to be a double celebration for the RCB star and its fans. ### The Race for the IPL 2026 Orange Cap Here are the IPL 2026 Orange Cap standings as of May 13, 2026: - **Heinrich Klaasen (SRH)**: 12 matches, 508 runs - **Sai Sudharsan (GT)**: 12 matches, 501 runs - **Virat Kohli (RCB)**: 12 matches, 484 runs - **Abhishek Sharma (SRH)**: 12 matches, 481 runs - **KL Rahul (DC)**: 12 matches, 477 runs Kohli moved to third spot but Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Heinrich Klaasen is still leading the race with 508 runs. In second place is Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudharsan, who has scored 501 runs. Interestingly, the top five batsmen of the tournament are just 31 runs apart. ### Bhuvneshwar Kumar Dominates the Purple Cap Race Bhuvneshwar Kumar leads the Purple Cap as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament. In the match against KKR, Bhuvneshwar took 1 wicket for 34 runs in his 4 overs. His total tally has increased to 22 wickets for the season. However, he only has a narrow lead over Kagiso Rabada, who stands in second place with 21 wickets. Bhuvneshwar had earlier made history this season by becoming the first fast bowler to take 200 wickets in IPL history. He also had a 7.55 economy rate, which is one of the best among the top bowlers in IPL. Chennai Super Kings’ Anshul Kamboj is third with 19 wickets from 11 matches. Rashid Khan and Prince Yadav are also tied for the fourth position with 16 wickets each. ### Key Takeaways - Kohli’s century was his ninth in IPL history, setting a new record. - Bhuvneshwar Kumar leads the Purple Cap with 22 wickets. - The Orange Cap race is tight, with the top five players separated by just 31 runs. - RCB now sits at the top of the points table with 16 points. For more IPL news and updates, follow the JeetWin Blog.