Fans flooded social media with memes and praises for the legendary batter Virat Kohli as he hit his fourth IPL 2026 fifty and a record ninth 500-run IPL season. Kohli achieved these feats during the 61st clash of the season as RCB travelled to the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala to lock horns with the Punjab Kings. After being invited to bat first, the defending champions got off to a disappointing start and had their first setback early in the game. The visitors lost opener Jacob Bethell at just 11 runs in seven deliveries.

Carved away for a MAXIMUM! 🚀 What a beautiful shot to get things going for #ViratKohli! 👑#TATAIPL Race to Playoffs 2026 👉 #PBKSvRCB | LIVE NOW ➡️ https://t.co/OJhb8ljCPI pic.twitter.com/1sQP5zDhiM

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 17, 2026

However, Kohli, who was coming off a phenomenal century against the Kolkata Knight Riders in the previous game, recorded his fourth fifty of the season. The 37-year-old reached the milestone on the fifth ball of the 12 over with a single to Shashank Singh. He utilized 31 deliveries for the same and now owns 67 half centuries in the tournament.

Death. Taxes. VIRAT KOHLI PILING UP RUNS EVERY SEASON! 👑#TATAIPL Race to Playoffs 2026 👉 #PBKSvRCB | LIVE NOW ➡️ https://t.co/OJhb8ljCPI pic.twitter.com/jMaNRqqzYR

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 17, 2026

In addition to it, the former RCB skipper now has recorded ninth 500+ run season, with most runs in the 2016 record. If we take a look at his last nine seasons, Kohli had 557 runs in 2011, followed by 634 and 505 in 2013 and 2015. Later in 2016, he recorded 973 runs, his highest, before 530 runs in 2018, 639 in 2023 and 741 runs in IPL 2024. In the next two seasons, Kohli recorded 657 runs in 2025 and 542* runs in 2026.

𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐨𝐡𝐥𝐢 𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲! 🤭 Just a Punjabi boy having some pure fun against the Punjab side 🤩#TATAIPL Race to Playoffs 2026 👉 #PBKSvRCB | LIVE NOW ➡️ https://t.co/OJhb8ljCPI pic.twitter.com/bNtBk8sjjy

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 17, 2026

Netizens react to another milestone achieved by Virat Kohli

Netizens reacted to their favorite batter’s two achievements by flooding social media with memes and praises. Here are some reactions-

If Virat Kohli scores a Duck 🦆 that's rare and unusual, but if Virat scores a Fifty or century it is completely Normal, it feels like part of the game 👑🔥

— Yuvraj Singh Fans (@Yuvifansclub) May 17, 2026

So RCB now has the best top 4 indian batsmen 😁 Virat Kohli Devdutt Padikkal Rajat Patidar Venkatesh Iyer Most importantly then can now drop Jacob Bethell and play Jordan Cox until Phil Salt gets fit

— V!sh (@VishalNama18) May 17, 2026

RCB को जब भी देखता हूं तो लगता है कि ये टीम जो डिफेंडिंग चैंपियन है कहीं फिर न चैंपियन बन जाए, क्योंकि ये जो टीम है न वो कमाल है Jacob Bethell Virat Kohli Devdutt Padikkal Rajat Patidar Tim David Krunal Pandya Jitesh Sharma Romario Shepherd अब इसमें से जब कोई नहीं… pic.twitter.com/nglyUwNOwo

— Jaiky Yadav (@JaikyYadav16) May 17, 2026

Fifty for Virat Kohli is just a routine 👑 King for a Reason pic.twitter.com/wMyR5FlNLQ

— Yuvraj Singh Fans (@Yuvifansclub) May 17, 2026

Virat Kohli batting in full form is such a treat to watch!😍🐐 pic.twitter.com/PywSgoVcSW

— Boundary & Beyond Co. (@SrijoyMukherjee) May 17, 2026

Virat Kohli with the 9th 500+ runs season... This is king Kohli for you 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Rsks5xZyIh

— 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐣 ✨ (@WhenVirajsays) May 17, 2026

Kohli was dismissed on the last ball of the 15 over after getting caught out by Priyansh Arya off a Yuzvendra Chahal delivery.