Virat Kohli vs Shreyas Iyer: When it comes to Indian batters with flair and leadership qualities, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer stand out as modern greats of the IPL. In IPL 2025, Kohli continues to be the face of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), while Iyer leads the charge for Punjab Kings (PBKS). Kohli is the epitome of passion, consistency, and experience, while Iyer brings elegance, calmness, and tactical awareness.

As PBKS get ready to take on RCB, here’s a head-to-head comparison between the two stalwarts of the Indian Premier League.

This article compares their performances based on key IPL batting metrics.

Virat Kohli vs Shreyas Iyer Comparison

1. Total Runs Scored

• Virat Kohli: 8,252 runs (258 matches, 250 innings)

• Shreyas Iyer: 3,377 runs (122 matches, 121 innings)

Kohli leads by a huge margin in terms of overall runs, being the highest run-scorer in IPL history. Iyer, though, has made his mark in significantly fewer games.

2. Strike Rate

• Virat Kohli: 132.29

• Shreyas Iyer: 131.15

Kohli holds a slight edge in strike rate, showcasing his ability to keep the scoreboard ticking across formats and phases of the game. Both batters are effective during middle overs.

3. Batting Average

• Virat Kohli: 39.11

• Shreyas Iyer: 33.44

Kohli once again comes out on top, underlining his consistency over a long IPL career. Iyer’s average remains strong, reflecting his ability to anchor innings and play under pressure.

4. Fifties and Hundreds

• Virat Kohli: 58 fifties, 8 centuries

• Shreyas Iyer: 24 fifties, 0 centuries

Kohli dominates here with the most 50+ scores in IPL history, including a record-setting 4 centuries in a single season (2016). Iyer, while consistent, is yet to notch up an IPL hundred.

5. Sixes and Fours

• Virat Kohli: 725 fours, 282 sixes

• Shreyas Iyer: 287 fours, 131 sixes

Kohli’s boundary count is far superior, highlighting his knack for finding gaps and his improved power-hitting in recent seasons. Iyer holds his own in the six-hitting department.

Team Influence

Virat Kohli has been the cornerstone of RCB since 2008. As a player and former captain, he has carried the team through highs and lows, including a runners-up finish in 2016. Though not always explosive from ball one, Kohli has evolved to take on more aggressive roles, especially in the powerplay.

Shreyas Iyer, on the other hand, has grown into a dependable leader. Having previously led Delhi Capitals to playoffs and now guiding PBKS, he has shown calmness under pressure. His ability to adapt between anchor and aggressor adds flexibility to any batting lineup.

Final Verdict

Virat Kohli is a proven IPL legend—statistically dominant, emotionally driven, and technically brilliant. Shreyas Iyer is a rising tactical leader and stylish batter who continues to impress with consistency and class.

While Kohli wins this battle on stats and legacy, Iyer’s trajectory still holds immense promise. It’s the clash of the master and the modern—Kohli’s legacy vs Iyer’s rise. IPL 2025 will only add new chapters to their ever-evolving stories.

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