Kohli becomes first batter to score 1000 boundaries in tournament

Bangalore : In a landmark moment for the Indian Premier League, Virat Kohli became the first player ever to reach 1000 boundaries in the tournament’s history. Playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Match 24 of IPL 2025 against Delhi Capitals at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kohli struck this iconic milestone in the fourth over by dispatching Axar Patel for a powerful six over long-on.

Kohli’s boundary tally now stands at a phenomenal 721 fours and 279 sixes, a testament to his dominance across all 18 IPL seasons. He remains the league’s leading four-hitter and is just behind Chris Gayle and Rohit Sharma in total sixes. With 99 half-centuries in T20 cricket, Kohli is now one short of joining David Warner as the only batter with 100 fifties in the format.

However, despite Kohli’s historic feat, it was KL Rahul who turned heads with a stunning unbeaten 93 off just 53 balls. Returning to his hometown, the Delhi Capitals star played a captain’s knock, anchoring the chase after DC stumbled early at 58/4. Chasing 164, Rahul’s masterful innings combined timing and temperament, dismantling the RCB bowling attack with ease.

RCB, who had earlier posted 163/7, began strong with Phil Salt and Kohli providing a solid foundation. But the innings lost momentum as Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav tightened the screws in the middle overs. While the score seemed challenging on a sluggish pitch, Rahul’s brilliance ensured otherwise.

Partnering with Tristan Stubbs (38* off 23), Rahul added an unbroken 111-run stand for the fifth wicket — the highest for that position in DC’s IPL history. The pair’s clinical finish came with 13 balls to spare, sealing a commanding six-wicket victory for Delhi.

Though Kohli carved another chapter in IPL folklore, it was Rahul’s elegant assault that defined the night, showcasing why he’s among the most dependable modern T20 batters.