As 2026 dawns, Virat Kohli, the evergreen batting maestro, enters his 38th year with unyielding fire, set to dazzle for India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL.
Having stepped back from captaincy burdens, Kohli focuses purely on run-scoring, his technique sharper than ever amid whispers of selective international commitments. For India, expect him to anchor the ODIs, potentially leading the charge in the bilateral series, where his chase-master prowess.
With 18 ODI matches on the fray, Kohli is expected to be at the centrepiece of almost all of them. The first assignment is immediate, as it starts from January 11 against New Zealand. In the IPL, Kohli remains RCB's talisman, after ending their title drought in 2025. Kohli had a stellar
outing for RCB, and he is set to continue with them for the upcoming season as well.
And along the way, Virat Kohli stands on the cusp of multiple historic milestones in 2026, both in international cricket and in the IPL.
IPL 9000-Run Mark
Kohli requires only 339 more runs to etch his name as the first batter to reach 9,000 IPL runs, building on his current tally of 8,661 from 259 innings. As Royal Challengers Bengaluru's lone franchise representative throughout his career, he has notched at least 600 runs in each of the past three seasons, solidifying his dominance ahead of Rohit Sharma's 7,046 runs in 267 innings.
Sixes in the IPL
Virat Kohli has hit 291 sixes in his IPL career so far, and the star India batter is just 9 away from reaching the 300-mark, which will make him only the 3rd player to do so in IPL's history. Rohit Sharma (302) and Chris Gayle (357) are the players ahead of him in the six-hitting list, and Kohli can join them in the 300 club for maximums in the Indian Premier League.
ODI 15,000-Run Milestone
In ODIs, Kohli eyes a spot alongside Sachin Tendulkar as the second player to amass 15,000 runs, needing 443 more after 14,557 from 296 innings. Tendulkar holds the record at 18,426 from 452 outings, with Kohli entrenched as the format's second-highest scorer overall.
ODI Runs Record
Kohli can claim second place in all international cricket runs with just 42 more, overtaking Kumar Sangakkara's 28,016 runs as he currently has 27,975 runs from 623 innings (Tests, ODIs, T20Is). This feat could arrive in India's opener against New Zealand in 2026.
150 Half Centuries in International Cricket
With 145 half-centuries (excluding 100s) in international cricket, Virat is just 5 away from the 150 mark, which will make him only the 2nd player in history to do so after Sachin Tendulkar (164). Kohli also has 229 scores of 50+ runs (including 100s), which is also 35 behind Sachin Tendulkar (264).
