IPL 2025: 3 Chris Gayle records Virat Kohli might break

3) Most runs as opener

There is no denying the fact that openers in T20 format enjoy the luxury of powerplay restrictions. However, there have been countless events when openers have been undone by jaffas or perished to an overaudacious shot in a bid to utilise the field restrictions.

Gayle was a natural opener from the outset, regardless of any team or format he played for. He scored 4480 out of his overall tally of 4965 runs as an opener. The rare occurrences of him coming outside that position lower were down to batting order adjustments or instances when he was not in a condition to come out due to any physical restraints.

Unlike Gayle, Kohli was never an innate opening batter. His first three seasons mostly saw him come in at numbers 5 or 6, mainly due to the prominent list of international stalwarts in RCB's glittery roster. This can well be reflected from his numbers, with only 54.37% of his IPL sum coming as an opener.

One of the major facets which come with being an opener in the shortest format is adaptability post the powerplay phase, something which Kohli has mastered through years. Kohli has scored 4352 runs as an opener in the IPL and is not far away from eclipsing his former teammate's long-standing record in the league.