Virat Kohli, one of the most iconic cricketers of our time, has achieved another milestone by becoming India’s leading run-scorer in T20 Internationals. This significant feat was accomplished during the T20 World Cup 2024 Super Eight match against Afghanistan in Barbados, marking another illustrious chapter in Kohli’s career.

Virat Kohli’s Journey to the Milestone

Virat Kohli’s journey to becoming the leading run-scorer in T20 Internationals has been nothing short of spectacular. Starting his T20I career in 2010, Kohli quickly established himself as a formidable batter.

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Comparison with Other Indian Batters

Prior to this match, Rohit Sharma held the record for the most T20I runs by an Indian. Kohli surpassed Rohit’s tally of 4,042 runs after Rohit was dismissed for 8 runs by Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Alongside Kohli and Rohit, other notable Indian T20I scorers include KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shikhar Dhawan, all of whom have made significant contributions to Indian cricket.

Most runs for India in T20Is

Player	Mat	Inns	Runs	HS	Ave	SR	100	50	4s	6s
V Kohli	121*	113	4066	122*	49.58	137.59	1	37	362	118
RG Sharma	155*	147	4050	121*	31.64	139.31	5	30	365	194
KL Rahul	72	68	2265	110*	37.75	139.12	2	22	191	99
SA Yadav	64*	61	2234	117	45.59	168.47	4	18	199	126
S Dhawan	68	66	1759	92	27.92	126.36	0	11	191	50

The Match Against Afghanistan

The match started with India winning the toss and opting to bat first. The decision was aimed at putting a challenging total on the board, but early wickets put India on the back foot. Afghanistan’s bowlers, led by Rashid Khan, made it difficult for the Indian batters to score freely.

Rohit Sharma’s Early Dismissal

Rohit Sharma’s early dismissal for just 8 runs was a setback for India. Fazalhaq Farooqi’s delivery tempted Rohit into an aerial shot, only for him to be caught by Rashid Khan at mid-on. This early blow shifted the pressure onto Kohli and the middle order.

Kohli’s Performance in the Match

Kohli played a steady innings, scoring 24 runs off 24 balls. His performance was a mix of calculated aggression and cautious defense, crucial in stabilizing the innings after early setbacks. However, his dismissal came when he tried to go for a big shot off Rashid Khan, only to be caught by Mohammad Nabi at long off.

Global T20I Run-Scorers

With this achievement, Kohli has become the second-highest run-scorer in T20 Internationals worldwide, behind Pakistan’s Babar Azam, who has 4,145 runs in 116 innings.

Kohli’s consistency and longevity in the format are matched by few, with players like Ireland’s Paul Stirling and New Zealand’s Martin Guptill also among the top run-scorers.

Most runs in career in T20Is

Player	Mat	Inns	Runs	HS	Ave	SR	100	50	4s	6s
Babar Azam (PAK)	123	116	4145	122	41.03	129.08	3	36	440	72
V Kohli (IND)	121*	113	4066	122*	49.58	137.59	1	37	362	118
RG Sharma (IND)	155*	147	4050	121*	31.64	139.31	5	30	365	194
PR Stirling (IRE)	145	144	3601	115*	27.07	134.61	1	23	418	128
MJ Guptill (NZ)	122	118	3531	105	31.81	135.70	2	20	309	173