Kohli eyes major milestone in IPL 2025 opener vs KKR
What's the story
Royal Challengers Bengaluru(RCB) talisman Virat Kohli can accomplish a major milestone in the 2025 Indian Premier League opener. The veteran batter, known for his consistency, is set to become only the third player to score over 1000 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), joining David Warner and Rohit Sharma. Kohli can achieve this milestone during the opening game against KKR at Eden Gardens on March 22. Here's more.
Run tally
Kohli's journey to the 1000-run milestone against KKR
As per ESPNcricinfo, Kohli has scored 962 runs against KKR in 31 innings at 38.48. The ex-Indian captain has one century and five half-centuries to his name in these matches Kohli ranks third among the top run-scorers against KKR, trailing Warner (1,093 in 28 matches) and Rohit (1,070 in 33 innings). Notably, the Delhi-born star also holds the record as the highest run-scorer in IPL history, having surpassed 8,000 runs.
Exclusive achievement
Kohli's unique record in IPL history
Kohli's batting record is unmatched, as he's the only player in IPL history to score over 1,000 runs against three teams—Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings, and Punjab Kings. According to ESPNcricinfo, only Warner (KKR, PBKS) and Rohit (KKR, DC) have achieved this milestone against multiple teams. Meanwhile, this rare achievement further cements Kohli's place as one of the top batsmen in the league's history.
Preparation
Kohli's pre-match training session
Ahead of the IPL opener, Kohli landed in Kolkata and immediately got into a grueling training session. He exhibited his batting prowess in the nets, smashing four sixes while facing Liam Livingstone and Josh Hazlewood. Although not RCB's official captain, he displayed his leadership skills by constantly engaging with his teammates during practice. His intense preparation speaks volumes of his desire to achieve great milestones in IPL 2025.
Team dynamics
KKR's opening duo: Narine and Salt
In IPL 2024, KKR secured their third title. They were powered by openers Sunil Narine and Phil Salt. The dynamic duo was unstoppable, scoring 559 runs in 12 innings—the third-highest partnership of the season. Amid KKR's opening pair woes from 2020 to 2023, Gambhir's decision to push Narine up the order paid off. But this season, Narine will have a new partner as Salt will play for RCB.