Virat Kohli's fastest IPL half-centuries

In 30 balls vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 2nd innings, Kolkata, 2025
Final score: 59 off 36 (SR: 163.88)

In the IPL 2025 season opener, RCB were chasing 175 at Eden Gardens. Kohli watched his new opening partner, Phil Salt, race to 44 off 19 before joining in on the fun, hitting Spencer Johnson for consecutive sixes back over his head. He spent a lot of the innings watching from the other end but was aggressive whenever on strike. He hammered two slog-sweeps off Varun Chakravarthy and brought up his fifty in the 13th over, with a lofted shot over the covers off Harshit Rana. He remained unbeaten as RCB finished the chase within 17 overs.

In 29 balls vs Mumbai Indians, 1st innings, Mumbai, 2025
Final score: 67 off 42 (SR: 159.52)

Kohli started off strongly, hitting three of the first nine balls he faced for boundaries. He then made a statement when he hit a returning Jasprit Bumrah's second ball for a six over midwicket. In the next over, he hit Will Jacks for two boundaries to get to 35 off 18. His next 15 runs took 11 balls, but it was still his fastest fifty in the IPL since 2018. He got to the half-century with a big hit over long-on off wristspinner Vignesh Puthur.

In 28 balls vs Kings XI Punjab, 1st innings, Bengaluru, 2016
Final score: 113 off 50 (SR: 226.00)

In one of his most famous IPL knocks, Kohli, batting with nine stitches on his left hand, slapped his first ball from Sandeep Sharma for a four through the covers. There were powerful shots off the spinners, a cheeky reverse-paddle and more thumping hits through the covers off the seamers as Kohli raced to his fifty in the ninth over. From there, he accelerated further to set up a total of 211 in the 15-overs-a-side contest. RCB eventually won by 82 runs.

In 28 balls vs Chennai Super Kings, 1st innings, Bengaluru, 2013
Final score: 56* off 29 (193.10)

RCB's must-win game against CSK at the end of the 2013 league phase was reduced to eight overs a side because of rain. Kohli took down R Ashwin and Chris Morris early to give his team the start they needed before smacking Dwayne Bravo for 16 in the final over. RCB's 106 was enough to win the game, but Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) ended up taking the final playoff spot with a win in their last game.

In 26 balls vs Delhi Daredevils, 2nd innings, Delhi, 2018
Final score: 70 off 40 (SR: 175.00)

In an important game for playoffs qualification, RCB were 18 for 2 in their chase of 182 when Kohli laid into South African seamer Junior Dala in the fourth over. A pull, a wristy flick for six, and a drive through the covers got Kohli on his way, and along with AB de Villiers, he made the chase look comfortable from then on.

In 26 balls vs Rajasthan Royals, 2nd innings, Bengaluru, 2018
Final score: 57 off 30 balls (SR: 190.00)

A couple of smacks through and over the covers set Kohli on the way to his fastest IPL fifty in a chase. He hit Ben Stokes for a couple of boundaries and went hard against the spinners before pulling Shreyas Gopal to deep midwicket in the 11th over. RCB ended up falling 19 runs short.