Former Indian captain clarified his criteria of picking the best T20 opener before snubbing Rohit and Sachin
With just a few days remaining until the excitement of IPL 2026 kicks off, a recent statement by Virat Kohli has already sparked a debate on social media. Specifically, while selecting the greatest opening batters in T20 cricket, Kohli bypassed several Indian legends to name a former teammate, a player who has tormented bowlers in the IPL for years.
The Challenge
RCB shared an engaging video on their official social media handle, featuring Virat Kohli playing the ‘This or That’ game. In this game, he was tasked with choosing between two legendary batters who he thinks is the best T20 opener. Kohli chose Adam Gilchrist as the best T20 opener over Sunil Narine; however, when the choice came down to Travis Head versus Gilchrist, he gave preference to Head.
Nevertheless, when it came to Indian legends, Kohli ranked Virender Sehwag above Travis Head, Quinton de Kock, Shane Watson, and even the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
The Choice
At the most thrilling juncture of the video, when faced with the challenge of choosing between Rohit Sharma and Chris Gayle, Kohli paused to think for a moment before naming the ‘Universe Boss’—Chris Gayle. He believes that Gayle is the best T20 opener
The Reaction
Kohli’s choice of the best T20 opener is now going viral across social media, eliciting a wide range of reactions from the public. This is particularly intriguing given that Rohit Sharma ranks among the highest run-scorers in T20 Internationals.
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However, Gayle holds the distinction of having played the historic 175-run innings in the IPL, in addition to holding the monumental record of scoring over 14,000 runs in T20 cricket.
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The Edition
RCB is set to take the field in IPL 2026 as the defending champions. Bengaluru claimed their maiden IPL title in 2025. Now, the team will kick off their campaign to defend the trophy on March 28 against Hyderabad. Virat has also joined the squad and was spotted practising in the nets.
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The Performance
This right-handed batsman has scored 8,661 runs across 267 matches and 259 innings in the history of the IPL. Kohli boasts an average of 39.54 and a strike rate of 132.85. The former RCB captain has smashed eight centuries and 63 half-centuries in the history of the tournament.
The Result
In the 2025 edition, this veteran batsman scored 657 runs in 15 matches at an average of 54.75, playing a pivotal role in helping Bengaluru secure their maiden IPL title. Kohli registered eight half-centuries and maintained a magnificent strike rate of 144.71.
Also Read: 5 Veteran Players Who Can Play Their Last IPL Season in 2026
