NEW DELHI: The emotions, tears, smiles, satisfaction, and the feeling of finally holding the IPL trophy — the scenes of Virat Kohli and the entire Royal Challengers Bengaluru camp after winning the IPL 2025 title are still fresh in the minds of fans. And now, with another dominant campaign, RCB are back in the playoffs and dreaming of back-to-back titles.
With nine wins in 14 matches, 18 points, and an impressive net run rate of +0.78, RCB became the first team to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs. Watch Andy Flower explains how RCB conquered the IPL 2026 league stage.
One of the biggest architects behind RCB’s success this season has once again been their talisman Virat Kohli. The former India captain has been in tremendous form throughout the season, and the defending champions will hope he carries the same momentum into the playoffs as well. RCB are set to face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.
The winner of Qualifier 1 will march directly into the IPL 2026 final, while the losing side will get another opportunity in Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals. But there is one statistic that may worry RCB fans: despite being one of the greatest batters in IPL history, Kohli does not boast a dominating record in the playoff stages of the tournament.
In his illustrious IPL career spanning 281 matches, Kohli has played 16 games in playoffs for RCB and scored 357 runs at an average of 25.50 and a strike rate of 121.42. He has registered two half-centuries in playoff matches and also has a duck to his name. Kohli has been the face of RCB since the inception of the IPL in 2008. Signed by the Bengaluru franchise as a youngster, he has remained loyal to the team throughout his IPL journey.
After failing to qualify for the playoffs in the inaugural season in 2008, RCB reached the playoffs for the first time in 2009. They defeated Chennai Super Kings in the semifinal to enter the final, but eventually lost the title clash to Deccan Chargers. Now, as RCB gear up for another massive playoff clash against Gujarat Titans, all eyes will once again be on Kohli. Here’s a look at Kohli’s overall IPL numbers and his record in the playoff stage.
Virat Kohli in IPL
OVERALL: 281 matches, 273 innings, 4392 runs, highest 181*, average 40.07, strike rate 134.39, 9 centuries, 67 half-centuries.
IPL 2026: 14 matches, 14 innings, 557 runs, highest 105*, average 50.63, strike rate 163.82, 1 century, 4 half-centuries.
IPL 2025: 15 matches, 15 innings, 657 runs, highest 73*, average 54.75, strike rate 144.71, 0 centuries, 8 half-centuries.
IPL 2024: 15 matches, 15 innings, 741 runs, highest 113*, average 61.75, strike rate 154.69, 1 century, 5 half-centuries.
IPL 2023: 14 matches, 14 innings, 639 runs, highest 101*, average 53.25, strike rate 139.82, 2 centuries, 6 half-centuries.
IPL 2022: 16 matches, 16 innings, 341 runs, highest 73*, average 22.73, strike rate 115.98, 0 centuries, 2 half-centuries.
IPL 2021: 15 matches, 15 innings, 405 runs, highest 72*, average 28.92, strike rate 119.46, 0 centuries, 3 half-centuries.
IPL 2020: 15 matches, 15 innings, 466 runs, highest 90*, average 42.36, strike rate 121.35, 0 centuries, 3 half-centuries.
IPL 2019: 14 matches, 14 innings, 464 runs, highest 100, average 33.14, strike rate 141.46, 1 century, 2 half-centuries.
IPL 2018: 14 matches, 14 innings, 530 runs, highest 92*, average 48.18, strike rate 139.10, 0 centuries, 4 half-centuries.
IPL 2017: 10 matches, 10 innings, 308 runs, highest 64, average 30.80, strike rate 122.22, 0 centuries, 4 half-centuries.
IPL 2016: 16 matches, 16 innings, 973 runs, highest 113, average 81.08, strike rate 152.03, 4 centuries, 7 half-centuries.
IPL 2015: 16 matches, 16 innings, 550 runs, highest 82*, average 45.90, strike rate 130.82, 0 centuries, 3 half-centuries.
IPL 2014: 14 matches, 14 innings, 359 runs, highest 73*, average 27.61, strike rate 122.10, 0 centuries, 2 half-centuries.
IPL 2013: 16 matches, 16 innings, 634 runs, highest 99, average 45.28, strike rate 138.73, 0 centuries, 6 half-centuries.
IPL 2012: 16 matches, 16 innings, 364 runs, highest 73*, average 28.00, strike rate 111.65, 0 centuries, 2 half-centuries.
IPL 2011: 16 matches, 16 innings, 557 runs, highest 146, average 46.41, strike rate 121.08, 0 centuries, 4 half-centuries.
IPL 2010: 16 matches, 13 innings, 307 runs, highest 75, average 27.90, strike rate 144.81, 0 centuries, 1 half-century.
IPL 2009: 16 matches, 13 innings, 246 runs, highest 50, average 22.36, strike rate 112.32, 0 centuries, 1 half-century.
IPL 2008: 13 matches, 12 innings, 165 runs, highest 38, average 15.00, strike rate 105.09, 0 centuries, 0 half-centuries.
Virat Kohli in IPL Playoffs
Player: Virat Kohli, Team: RCB, Playoff Matches: 16, Runs: 357, Average: 25.50, Strike Rate: 121.42, 50s: 2, 100s: 0, 0s: 1.
Virat Kohli in IPL Playoffs - All Matches
- 24* (17 balls, 4 fours, 1 six, SR 141.17, not out, position 2, vs CSK, Johannesburg, 23 May 2009)
- 7 (8 balls, 0 fours, 0 sixes, SR 87.50, stumped, vs Chargers, Johannesburg, 24 May 2009)
- 9 (7 balls, 1 four, 0 sixes, SR 128.57, caught, vs MI, DY Patil, 21 Apr 2010)
- 70* (44 balls, 5 fours, 3 sixes, SR 159.09, not out, vs CSK, Wankhede, 24 May 2011)
- 8 (12 balls, 0 fours, 0 sixes, SR 66.66, bowled, vs MI, Chennai, 27 May 2011)
- 35 (32 balls, 1 four, 1 six, SR 109.37, LBW, vs CSK, Chennai, 28 May 2011)
- 1 (2 balls, 0 fours, 0 sixes, SR 66.66, caught, vs RR, Pune, 20 May 2015)
- 12 (9 balls, 1 four, 0 sixes, SR 133.33, caught, vs CSK, Ranchi, 22 May 2015)
- 0 (2 balls, 0 fours, 0 sixes, SR 0.00, bowled, vs GL, Bengaluru, 24 May 2016)
- 54 (35 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes, SR 154.28, bowled, vs SRH, Bengaluru, 29 May 2016)
- 6 (7 balls, 0 fours, 0 sixes, SR 85.71, caught, vs SRH, Abu Dhabi, 6 Nov 2020)
- 25 (24 balls, 2 fours, 0 sixes, SR 104.16, caught, vs LSG, Eden Gardens, 25 May 2022)
- 7 (8 balls, 0 fours, 0 sixes, SR 87.50, caught, vs RR, Ahmedabad, 27 May 2022)
- 33 (24 balls, 3 fours, 1 six, SR 137.50, caught, vs RR, Ahmedabad, 22 May 2024)
- 12 (12 balls, 2 fours, 0 sixes, SR 100.00, caught, vs PBKS, New Chandigarh, 29 May 2025)
- 43 (35 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes, SR 122.85, caught, vs PBKS, Ahmedabad, 3 Jun 2025)
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