Former England captain Michael Vaughan has predicted that Virat Kohli will emerge as the leading run-scorer in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which commences on March 22. Vaughan’s prediction stems from Kohli’s exceptional track record in the tournament, where he holds the distinction of being the all-time leading run-getter.
Kohli’s return to the cricket field after a brief hiatus has generated immense excitement among fans. The star batter opted to skip the England Test series to be with his wife, Anushka Sharma, during the birth of their second child.
Vaughan believes that Kohli’s absence from competitive cricket will not hinder his performance in the IPL. “Virat Kohli will be the leading run-scorer,” Vaughan asserted on the Club Prairie Fire podcast. “Rohit Sharma will have the best strike rate in IPL 2024, but Virat Kohli will be the leading run-scorer.”
However, former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist expressed a different opinion, backing Rajasthan Royals’ Yashasvi Jaiswal to claim the top honors among batters.
Kohli’s last competitive outing was in January during the two T20I matches of the three-match series against Afghanistan. Since then, he has been eagerly awaiting his return to the field, where he will don the red and gold colors of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
Kohli’s IPL statistics are nothing short of remarkable. In 237 matches and 229 innings, he has amassed 7,263 runs at an average of 37.24 and a strike rate of 130.02. His highest score is 113, and he has scored seven centuries and 50 fifties in his IPL career.
Last season, Kohli was the fourth-highest run-getter, piling up 639 runs at an average of 53.25 and a strike rate of 139.82. His best score was 101*. The 35-year-old scored two centuries and six fifties but could not guide his side to the playoffs.
RCB will kick off their IPL campaign on Friday against the Chennai Super Kings in an away match. Kohli’s presence in the lineup is expected to boost RCB’s chances of success in the tournament.
