Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper who will open the batting in IPL 2021, is on the verge of breaking quite a few records.
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When Kohli opened the batting in the IPL for almost an entire season in 2016, he broke a slew of records. Kohli confirmed he’ll open for RCB in IPL 2021, and a few records appear to be under threat in the season.
First Indian to 10,000 T20 runs
Kohli has 9,731 runs in the shortest format of the game and even if he has his worst IPL season in the last decade, Kohli would still get past the 10,000 run mark, thereby becoming the first Indian to the landmark.
First to 6,000 IPL runs
In the IPL, Kohli has 5,878 runs, all of them coming for Royal Challengers Bangalore. He should breeze through to 6,000 runs ahead of the next highest run-scorer, Suresh Raina, who needs more than 600 runs to get there.
Most IPL hundreds
Opening the batting gives Kohli a better shot at making hundreds in this format. Currently he has five IPL tons with only Chris Gayle (6) ahead of him. He could equal Gayle, or even go past him during the course of the season.
First RCB player to 200 IPL appearances
Kohli last year became the first to make 200 appearances for a single franchise. With 192 of those coming in the IPL, he is set to cross 200 appearances in the IPL this season.
First Indian to fifty fifty-plus scores
Kohli has 39 fifties and five centuries, a total of 44 scores of fifty or more in the IPL. Six more scores above 50 from Virat Kohli in IPL 2021 could get him to fifty fifty-plus scores, a record for an Indian. He will be the first Indian and second overall (after David Warner) to the feat.