Red-hot Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten half-century last night to break Chris Gayle's record for the most runs in a single Indian Premier League season.

Kohli, captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore, racked up 752 runs in 12 matches so far this year including three centuries and five 50s. His 75-run blitz on Monday kept the Challengers' play-off hopes alive after they crushed the Kolkata Knight Riders by nine wickets.

The Indian batsman overtakes the powerful Gayle, who scored 733 runs in 15 matches in 2012, while Australia's Mike Hussey tallied the same figure in 17 games in 2013.

Kohli, who batted with an injured finger, stitched together a 115-run unbeaten stand with AB de Villiers (59).

Their partnership comes just two days after they recorded the highest partnership (229) in T20 cricket history during the Challengers' match against the Gujarat Lions.

Gayle finds superheroes in the Challengers' dugout

West Indian opener Chris Gayle, who also found form at Eden Gardens with a 31-ball 49 for Challengers, paid credit to the in-form duo.

“Those two guys are playing like Batman and Superman. They are in the form of their life,” said the Jamaican.