Virat Kohli becomes first player to 8,000 IPL runs in India as RCB collapse against Gujarat Titans

Key facts

• Virat Kohli became the first IPL player to score 8,000 runs in India, reaching 8,016 runs in 232 innings.
• Kohli hit 21 runs off Kagiso Rabada in the second over, including five consecutive fours.
• RCB were bowled out for 155, their lowest total batting first in IPL 2026.
• Arshad Khan took 3/22 for Gujarat Titans, wrapping up the RCB tail.
• RCB slipped from 71/2 after seven overs to 96/6 in 10.3 overs.
• Kohli was dismissed for 28 off 13 balls by Rabada, triggering a collapse.

Milestone amid mayhem

Virat Kohli carved his name deeper into IPL history on Thursday, becoming the first player to amass 8,000 runs in India during the league. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) icon achieved the feat against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, entering the match with 7,988 runs in 231 innings. He needed just 12 runs to reach the landmark and did so in explosive fashion, smashing 21 runs off Kagiso Rabada in the second over — including five fours in a row. Kohli’s quickfire 28 off 13 balls lifted his tally to 8,016 runs in 232 innings in India, placing him ahead of Rohit Sharma (6,274), Shikhar Dhawan (5,819), David Warner (5,689) and Suresh Raina (4,958) in the all-time list. Yet the milestone came in a losing cause as RCB suffered a dramatic batting collapse.

Rabada’s revenge and a batting implosion

After Kohli’s assault, Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill persisted with Rabada, a decision that paid off handsomely. Rabada struck back to remove Kohli for 28, triggering a collapse that saw RCB lose wickets in clusters through the middle phase. From a strong 71/2 after seven overs, RCB slipped to 96/6 in 10.3 overs, losing Rajat Patidar (19), Jitesh Sharma (1), Tim David (9) and Krunal Pandya (4) in quick succession. Left-arm pacer Arshad Khan wrapped up the tail, returning figures of 3/22 as RCB were bowled out for 155 in 19.2 overs — their lowest total while batting first in IPL 2026. The team’s all-out attacking template, which had served them well earlier, seemed to deny them 20-30 extra runs on a pitch where caution might have been warranted.

Return to the scene of glory

The match was played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the same venue where RCB had lifted the IPL title the previous season. The team began with intent, racing to a run rate above 10 as Kohli led the charge. However, the early aggression proved unsustainable once their talisman departed. Gujarat Titans’ bowling unit, led by Rabada and Arshad Khan, exploited the RCB middle-order fragility. The home team’s discipline in the field and strategic persistence with Rabada turned the game around, exposing the thin line between RCB’s high-risk approach and outright collapse.

Kohli’s IPL legacy in numbers

Kohli’s 8,016 runs in India place him atop a list that includes some of the tournament’s greatest batters. He has scored those runs at an average of over 38 and a strike rate of 131, with five centuries and 44 half-centuries. His overall IPL tally, including runs scored abroad, stands at 8,284 runs, making him the all-time leading run-scorer in the league. The milestone comes in a season where Kohli has been in record-breaking form, though his team’s inconsistency has been a recurring theme. RCB’s total of 155 was their lowest batting first in the current season, highlighting the team’s reliance on Kohli’s early fireworks.

What the collapse means for RCB

The defeat at Ahmedabad exposed RCB’s perennial vulnerability — a brittle middle order that struggles when the top order fails. Despite Kohli’s rapid start, the team’s inability to consolidate after his dismissal cost them dearly. The all-out attacking approach, while entertaining, has left them short of competitive totals on multiple occasions. With the IPL 2026 season progressing, RCB will need to address this imbalance if they hope to defend their title. The loss to Gujarat Titans, a team they had beaten earlier in the season, serves as a warning that momentum can shift quickly in T20 cricket.

Gujarat Titans’ tactical masterclass

Shubman Gill’s captaincy was a key factor in the Titans’ victory. His decision to persist with Rabada after the pacer’s expensive first over showed tactical maturity. Rabada’s removal of Kohli not only broke the partnership but also exposed RCB’s lack of depth. Arshad Khan’s three-wicket haul was the icing on the cake, as the left-arm pacer cleaned up the lower order with precision. The Titans’ bowling attack, which has been one of the most consistent in the league, once again proved its ability to defend modest totals.

The bottom line

• Virat Kohli became the first IPL player to score 8,000 runs in India, reaching 8,016 runs in 232 innings.
• Kohli’s 28 off 13 balls included 21 runs off Kagiso Rabada in a single over, but his dismissal triggered a collapse.
• RCB were bowled out for 155, their lowest total batting first in IPL 2026, losing by a significant margin.
• Arshad Khan took 3/22 for Gujarat Titans, while Rabada finished with 1/38.
• The match highlighted RCB’s reliance on Kohli and their fragile middle order, which could hinder their title defense.
• Gujarat Titans’ captain Shubman Gill’s tactical persistence with Rabada proved decisive in the victory.