Star Indian batter Virat Kohli recently stirred debate among cricket fans after naming Chris Gayle as the greatest T20 opener, choosing the West Indies legend over Indian icons Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma.
In a social media video, the former Indian captain participated in a rapid-fire segment where he had to choose between several legendary cricketers from India and around the world. When asked to pick between Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, Kohli first clarified whether the comparison was specifically about T20 cricket. After confirming the format, he selected Sehwag for his explosive batting style.
The final question asked Kohli to choose between Rohit Sharma and Chris Gayle as the best T20 opener. Once again confirming that the context was strictly T20 cricket, Kohli opted for Gayle, his former teammate at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, praising the West Indian’s unmatched dominance in the shortest format.
Meanwhile, Kohli has already begun preparations for the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season. A recent Instagram reel shared by the star batter showed him practicing intensely in the nets, focusing on his batting ahead of the tournament. The training clip quickly went viral, with fans expressing excitement about seeing him back in action.
Kohli remains one of the most successful players in IPL history. Across 267 matches and 259 innings, he has scored an impressive 8,661 runs at an average of 39.54 and a strike rate of 132.85. His record includes eight centuries and 63 half-centuries.
In the 2025 IPL season, the 37-year-old enjoyed a remarkable campaign, scoring 657 runs in 15 matches at an average of 54.75. His consistent performances played a key role in helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru secure their maiden IPL title. Kohli also recorded eight half-centuries and maintained a strong strike rate of 144.71 during the tournament.
According to an announcement by Star Sports on March 8, the IPL 2026 season will begin on March 28. However, the full match schedule for the tournament is yet to be released.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will enter the new season as defending champions after defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in the 2025 final held in Ahmedabad. Fans will now be eager to see whether Kohli and his team can defend their historic title in the upcoming edition.
