Virat Kohli's IPL records and stats against Punjab Kings

RCB will be taking on PBKS in the 6th match of the IPL 2024. While PBKS are on the back of a win against DC, RCB lost the inaugural match of the season against CSK. The key for RCB's comeback in the league would be Virat Kohli, who could not fire with the bat against the 5-time champions. But against PBKS, he is expected to be at his best, given his record against the side.

The star batter will be eyeing to perform well against PBKS. The focus will be on the 35-year-old, as the IPL will be important for him ahead of the big tournament like the T20 World Cup 2024. RCB would be hoping for him to be at his best against PBKS. Some of the best knocks of Virat in the league have come against PBKS. When at his best, Kohli was a beast in the IPL and performed well against PBKS.

Virat is the leading run scorer in the league. The fans would hope him to add more runs to the tally, as RCB would be a bit desperate for the first win of their season. A win would help them get back on track in the league. A loss would push them down further in the table. It is scenarios like these where the star batter thrives. The experience of Virat will be invaluable for RCB in the match against PBKS. 

Virat Kohli's stats against PBKS

The right-handed batter has played 30 matches against PBKS in the history of the league. In as many innings, the leading run-scorer of the tournament has 861 runs to his name at a batting average of 31.89, at a batting strike rate of 127.74, including a hundred and three fifty-plus scores. These are good numbers for someone who has been playing since the inaugural season of the league.

Memorable Performances against PBKS

In the IPL 2016, Virat Kohli was in monstrous form, where he amassed 973 runs in 16 innings at a batting average of 81.08 and a batting strike rate of 152.03. In the season, Virat played one of his best knocks against PBKS. The star batter smashed 113 runs in 50 balls which included 12 fours and eight sixes. In a rain-affected game, the match was reduced to 15 overs per side. RCB smashed 211 runs. Most of them were scored by Virat.

It came when he was in immense pain and had eight stitches in his hand. Early in his career in 2010, Virat played another great innings against PBKS. In 2010, RCB needed to chase 182 at Barabati stadium in Cuttack, which was a slow wicket. In the big run chase, the star batter scored an unbeaten 42*(26) which included seven fours and a six. It was a handy knock, as RCB won the match by six wickets in a thrilling end. 

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Key Battles for Virat Kohli

Kagiso Rabada - The star bowler has had a wood over Virat in the past. Virat does not have a good record against the South African pacer in the league. The RCB batter has faced the PBKS bowler in the league quite a few times. In 24 balls, Kohli has managed to score only 27 runs. Rabada has dismissed Virat in three instances. The right-handed batter averages 9.00 and has a strike rate of 112.5 against Rabada in the IPL.

Arshdeep Singh - While Kagiso Rabada has troubled Virat in the past, the opening batter has an edge over Rabada's partner, Arshdeep Singh, in the IPL. Virat has faced 23 balls against the left-arm pacer and managed to smash 44 runs without getting dismissed at a batting strike rate of 191.3. If Virat needs to get going, he must play out Rabada and target Arshdeep in the powerplay overs. 

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Records and Milestones against PBKS

Virat Kohli has 861 runs against PBKS, which is the third most for a batter against the 2014 finalists. The star batter needs to score 34 runs to become the second-highest run-scorer against the opponent. If Kohli can score 39 runs, he will be just the second batter after David Warner to score 900 or more runs against PBKS.

The Indian batter smashed 113(50) against PBKS in the IPL 2016, which is his highest individual score in the league against an opponent. It was also his fastest hundred in the IPL. Virat has played 30 matches against PBKS, which is the second most against any opponent for Virat in the history of the league.