- May 11, 2025
When discussing IPL legends, it’s difficult not to put Virat Kohli straight into that conversation. Kohli is more than a run machine; he is the face of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and he has the most runs in IPL history. However, Nicholas Pooran is wielding the bat fearlessly at an explosive strike rate and making a strong case for himself as well. After both players have played 87 matches, how do they measure up? Is Kohli’s legacy unattainable, or is Pooran forging a path to rival it? Let’s look at the numbers!
Runs on the Board
It is certainly hard not to bring up Virat Kohli in a discussion of IPL legends. Kohli is more than a run factory. He is the face of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and undoubtedly, the all-time IPL leading run-scorer. But! Nicholas Pooran is fearlessly hitting and striking explosively while also making a strong case for himself. After a total of 87 games for both players, who has put up the better numbers? Let’s look at the numbers!
Meanwhile, Pooran has earned his runs primarily as a middle-row finisher, which makes Pooran’s 2179 lifetime runs even more remarkable. He is not simply accumulating runs; he is accumulating runs when the team needs explosive runs in the death overs. So, while Kohli was a slow burn early in his career, Pooran was an instant heat rocket.
The verdict? Pooran gets the slight edge in terms of impact early on in their careers, but Kohli’s development shows how roles and team culture shape long-term statistics.
Strike Rates and Averages
Before I get too hot under the collar, Kohli’s stats at 87 matches say he averages 29.93 at a strike rate of 121.15. That is nothing special. Pooran? So when I say someone is better, Pooran is elite.
Kohli’s advantage was that he consistently batted and batted time in the innings. Kohli was not as aggressive as he was previously. Pooran plays into the new-age freedom that T20 allows and rejects anything that gets in his way. Statistically.
Does this mean Pooran is “better?” Not really. It is like when you compare a Swiss army knife to a flamethrower; both are effective, just differently. Kohli would have built pressure over time; Pooran crushes pressure in minutes.
Contribution to Team Wins
It is about winning games. Kohli made a total of 1035 runs in wins across his first 87 matches, and has five fifties registered as wins for RCB also. Pooran? He has 1118 runs in wins, including seven fifties contributing to those winning causes.
Both players had played roughly 39-40 innings at this point in both of their careers, but Pooran has more than in runs and can include his 13 fifties (seven in winning performances). Either way, the more significant variable is that Pooran effectively has more “clutch” moments that matter. This is especially important for a player who has not often had the luxury of opening the batting.
Once again, this indicates their respective roles. Kohli was still trying to find his groove and his place previously. Pooran’s clarity in role and his ability to execute that role have him marginally ahead of Kohli in terms of impact per game, particularly at the moment of truth.
So, who is the leader after 87 IPL games? Pooran will probably pick up some eyebrows, his numbers a few more runs overall, a better strike rate, and more influential fifties in matches that were wins. He evolved, changed, developed, and ultimately, he has become the IPL’s all-time run scorer, an impressive achievement indeed. Only time will tell—but for now, cricket fans, we’ve got one heck of a matchup to keep watching.
Whose style do you prefer—Kohli’s calculated consistency or Pooran’s explosive flair? Let us know in the comments!
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