IPL’s Odd but Fascinating Contrasts
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is full of fun contradictions. Overseas players—limited to just four per playing XI—have smashed 53 out of 103 centuries. Meanwhile, Indian bowlers have claimed 24 of the league’s 37 five-wicket hauls, quietly dominating from the other end. But perhaps the biggest head-scratcher lies in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) stat sheet: in 18 seasons, only one Indian has scored over 1000 runs for the franchise—Virat Kohli.
Kohli: The Lone Ranger in RCB’s Indian Club
With a jaw-dropping 8168 runs, Virat Kohli isn’t just RCB’s top scorer—he’s the highest run-getter in IPL history. But behind him, RCB’s list of 1000+ run-scorers is mostly made up of overseas legends: AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, and Jacques Kallis. Two Indians—Devdutt Padikkal (962) and Rajat Patidar (960)—are just shy of the milestone, and one of them is about to break through.
Gujarat Titans Already Have Two Indian Centurions
To put things into perspective, even Gujarat Titans—a team that only joined IPL in 2022—already has two Indian players with 1000+ runs: Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan. That makes RCB’s stat even more surprising and, frankly, a little embarrassing for such a historic franchise.
Rajat Patidar: Ready to Break the Barrier
Well, that’s about to change. Rajat Patidar, RCB’s explosive right-hander, is just 40 runs away from joining the elusive 1000-club. If (and likely when) he gets there, he’ll become the second Indian to do so for RCB, finally giving Kohli some company on the all-time list.
The Underrated Power Hitter
Since 2024, when fans talk about the best hitters in the IPL, names like Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sunil Narine, and Heinrich Klaasen dominate the conversation. Rajat Patidar often flies under the radar—understandable when your teammate is the legend that is Kohli.
But don’t let that fool you.
Patidar’s Elite Company
Patidar is one of only four players in IPL history to have scored 500+ runs with both an average above 35 and a strike rate above 160. The other three? Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, and Shashank Singh. That’s some serious company. Patidar doesn’t just go big—he goes big fast.
RCB’s Next Chapter Starts With Patidar
Crossing 1000 runs won’t just be a personal milestone for Patidar—it could mark the beginning of a new era for RCB. He’s not just a future star. He’s already proving that he can be the next pillar of this team. And unlike the big overseas names who come and go, Patidar has the potential to be a long-term Indian icon for the franchise.
RCB’s Top IPL Run-Scorers (Before Patidar Crosses 1000)
- Virat Kohli – 8168
- AB de Villiers – 4491
- Chris Gayle – 3163
- Faf du Plessis – 1636
- Glenn Maxwell – 1266
- Jacques Kallis – 1132
- Devdutt Padikkal – 962
- Rajat Patidar – 960
More Than Just Numbers
For Rajat Patidar, reaching 1000 runs isn’t the finish line—it’s the launchpad. He’s already shown that he has the intent, the power, and the consistency to make it big. And once he officially joins Kohli in the record books, we may be witnessing the rise of RCB’s next big Indian star.(cricket betting tips)