New Delhi [India], April 9– Former Indian captain and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Virat Kohli has opened up about how the dynamic structure of the Indian Premier League (IPL) continues to shape his T20 approach, mentally and technically.
In a candid conversation on JioCinema’s ‘18 Calling 18’, Kohli highlighted the psychological and competitive intensity of the IPL, which he said was unmatched by shorter bilateral series.
“IPL challenges you in a very unique way because of how the tournament is structured. It spans several weeks, and your position on the points table keeps shifting. That brings different kinds of pressure… this dynamic nature pushes you mentally and competitively in ways other formats don’t. It’s also driven me to evolve my T20 skill set constantly,” Kohli said.
As the 2025 IPL season unfolds, Kohli continues to demonstrate why he’s a legend of the format. With 164 runs in four matches, including two half-centuries, Kohli has been instrumental in RCB’s early success. The team currently holds three wins in four matches, including historic victories over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Chennai and Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede — breaking 17-year and 10-year droughts, respectively.
Kohli’s performance this season has also brought him closer to some major personal milestones. He crossed the 13,000-run mark in T20s, joining an elite list that includes Chris Gayle and Babar Azam. With nine T20 centuries — eight in the IPL alone — he leads the tally among Indian players.
The 35-year-old RCB icon had previously breached the 10,000 T20 run mark during the 2021 IPL, reaching the feat in just 299 innings, making him the third-fastest to do so after Babar and Gayle. Of those, over 8,000 runs have come in the IPL, cementing his legacy as a T20 great.
RCB, still in search of their maiden IPL title, look like serious contenders this year. Backed by a strong squad and Kohli’s form, they’re building momentum early in the tournament.
Kohli will be back on the field tonight (April 9) as RCB take on Delhi Capitals in their next fixture in Delhi.