Most Runs Against a Single Opposition in IPL History

When it comes to batting dominance in the IPL, few names evoke as much awe as Virat Kohli. And when it comes to scoring heavily against a particular opponent, no one has done it quite like him. Kohli now holds the record for the most runs scored by a batter against a single opposition in the IPL – 1,146 runs against Chennai Super Kings. That puts him ahead of David Warner, who had previously held the record with 1,134 runs against Punjab Kings.

Interestingly, Kohli’s mastery over CSK isn't just limited to the IPL. If you expand the scope to all T20s, his tally goes up to 1,160 runs – again, the most by any batter against a specific team in the format. Kohli’s first half-century against the five-time champions came in the form of a measured 70 not out. Before that, he had several knocks in the 30s and 40s. He would go on to add eight more fifties against CSK, though his last one came in 2021. 

Breaking down the numbers a bit, Virat Kohli has batted 33 times against CSK in the IPL. In that time, he's piled up 1,084 runs at an average of 37.38 and a strike rate of 125.46. His highest score against them is an unbeaten 90, and he’s struck 78 fours and 43 sixes. Nine half-centuries in 33 innings against a team as stacked as CSK speaks volumes about his ability to turn up in the biggest clashes. And it’s not just CSK who’ve suffered at Virat Kohli’s hands. He also appears at third on the list of most runs against a single IPL team, with 1,130 runs against Delhi Capitals. That stat stings a little more when you recall how close Virat Kohli was to actually playing for them.  

Back in 2008, Virat Kohli was a Delhi boy fresh from winning the U-19 World Cup. He hoped to play for the Delhi Daredevils, but the franchise opted for left-arm seamer Pradeep Sangwan instead. RCB swooped in, and the rest is history. Not only did Delhi miss out on one of India’s greatest batters, but they also had to watch him score over a thousand runs against them over the years. 

Kohli shows up again at number four with 1,104 runs against Punjab Kings. Clearly, when Virat Kohli finds a bowling attack he likes, he sticks to making their lives miserable. And that brings us to David Warner – the only other player who’s had a similar level of sustained dominance against certain franchises. After Kohli's 1,146 and 1,130-run tallies, David Warner's 1,134 runs against Punjab Kings puts him second on the list. And just behind that is Warner again with 1,093 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders. 

It’s fascinating how both Virat Kohli and Warner have essentially owned three different franchises with their consistency. For Virat Kohli, it’s CSK, DC, and PBKS. For Warner, it’s PBKS, KKR, and to some extent DC. These numbers aren’t just a testament to longevity – they reflect the mental edge and technical brilliance required to keep coming back year after year and still score big against the same opposition.

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