Virat Kohli is a “genius par excellence,” according to former India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, who also praised him for surpassing 9000 runs in the Indian Premier League, a milestone that few other hitters in the league have yet to achieve

During Tuesday’s 228-run chase against the Lucknow Super Giants, Kohli virtually set the tone for Bengaluru with a scorching 54-run performance off 30 deliveries.

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In the IPL 2025, Kohli has amassed 602 runs at an incredible average of 60.2, including eight fifties.

With sixth place on the scoreboard, Kohli, who is playing in his 18th Indian Premier League season, is still a serious contender for the Orange Cap.

For Virat Kohli, I’ll add, “Genius par excellence is the first step.” He already averages—not averages—9000 runs over 18 seasons, or 500 runs a season. After the game, Karthik observed, “People were able to get those 12 seasons.”

“Hayden has a few more, but it’s really difficult to ask.” However, he must be motivated, even during warm-ups, to come out and run every year. Karthik said, “I was just hitting a couple balls to him, and the speed at which it returns in the middle shows you the man has a lot of passion.”

Bengaluru got off to a fast start against Lucknow, chasing an overwhelming 228. Phil Salt and Kohli put up 61 runs during the powerplay, while Jitesh Sharma and Mayank Agarwal brought them home.

However, it started with Salt and Kohli playing risk-free cricket, hitting 12 boundaries during the powerplay until Akash Singh removed the latter.

Even after the powerplay, however, Kohli kept hitting the field for fours, and it was entertaining to see him deliver a backfoot punch that raced to the fence for a boundary off Akash.

With only 27 deliveries, the hit helped Kohli surpass the 50-run milestone, but he was unable to turn it into anything more.

On Thursday at Mullanpur, RCB will play the Punjab Kings for a berth in the championship game.