IPL 2025: Three Indians who could break Virat Kohli's rare record of 973 runs in a season

Cricket records are meant to be broken, but Virat Kohli's 973 runs in a single IPL season stands as a monumental achievement in the history of the cash-rich league. The run machine achieved this remarkable feat during IPL 2016 while playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

His run tally of 973 runs came at a staggering average of 81.08 and a strike rate of 152.03. He gave the opponents a run for their money by demonstrating incredible consistency throughout the season. Notably, he scored four centuries and seven fifties, setting a benchmark that has proven incredibly challenging to surpass. While the records are indeed meant to be broken, Kohli's achievement sets an exceptionally high bar.

As the IPL continues to evolve, we will be able to see youngsters picking up the pace in an attempt to leave a mark in India's premier T20 competition. Let's go through the names of three Indian cricketers who have the potential to break Virat Kohli's rare record in the upcoming season.

1. Abhishek Sharma: Abhishek Sharma who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad is known for his batting exploits. He showcased his ability to score runs at a rate of knots in the IPL 2024 season and has been a rising star since then. The young lad drew plaudits for his aggressive stroke-play wherein he brought the best version of himself, scoring 484 runs in 16 matches at an average of 32.27 and a scintillating strike rate of 204.22 including three fifties. He demonstrated his potential to clear the ropes with relative ease, thus making him a dangerous batter in the T20 format. Since he is able to accelerate the run rate quickly, he has the potential to translate into big scores.

2. Shubman Gill: Shubman Gill is undoubtedly one of the best young batters in the world. The right-hander has been constantly making waves with the bat for the last few years now. He showcased his ability to anchor the innings while also switching gears when needed as per the match situation. He has been an ideal asset for building substantial totals. In IPL 2023 season, Gill came close to breaking Kohli's record by amassing 890 runs in a single season for Gujarat Titans, hitting 3 centuries and 4 fifties. A player like him has all the tools to break Kohli's rare record in the next season.

3. Ruturaj Gaikwad: Ruturaj Gaikwad has the flair and aptitude to become one of the best players in the IPL. He is one of the Indian cricketers who has the potential to break Virat Kohli's rare record in the next season. He emerged as a promising talent in the IPL playing for Chennai Super Kings. CSK immensely benefited from his serves as an opener, courtesy of his fluent stroke play and potential to find gaps consistently in the powerplay overs. The classy stroke-maker can provide solid starts and anchor the innings when needed. His natural stroke-making ability allows him to score quickly without taking unnecessary risks. He finished the IPL 2021 season as the leading run-getter with 635 runs, including 1 century and 4 fifties.