Virat Kohli Snubs Rohit Sharma, Picks Greatest T20 Opener

Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma. Image Credits: AFP/XVirat Kohli has surprised fans after he chose former teammate Chris Gayle over Rohit Sharma while naming his preferred T20 opener. With just two weeks left for the 19th edition of the tournament, discussions and debates have already started online. The excitement for the upcoming IPL season has already started building as the tournament is just around the corner. The defending champions RCB are set to face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match of IPL 2026. Virat Kohli’s “This or That” challengeAs teams prepare for the new season, franchises have also started sharing fun content and interactions with players to engage fans.Recently, RCB posted an interesting video featuring Virat Kohli. In the clip, the star batter participated in a fun “This or That” challenge where he had to choose between two players each time. Although the game was meant to be entertaining, one particular decision by Kohli caught the attention of fans.During the interaction, Kohli was asked to compare several famous cricketers from different eras. The rules were simple. He had to pick one player between two options, and the winner would move forward to the next comparison.Also Read: RCB Jersey IPL 2026 Price, Where To Buy Online and Offline, SponsorsThe game started with Kohli choosing Adam Gilchrist over Sunil Narine. As the rounds continued, he compared several legendary players from around the world.At one stage, he was asked to choose between Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. Before answering, Kohli clarified whether the comparison was based on the T20 format. Once the format was confirmed, he selected Sehwag. The challenge continued until the final round, which featured two big names in T20 cricket.Virat Kohli chooses Chris Gayle over Rohit SharmaIn the last comparison, Virat Kohli had to choose between Chris Gayle and Rohit Sharma as the better opener in T20 cricket. Once again, Kohli confirmed that the question was specifically about T20s before giving his answer.In a surprising move, he chose Chris Gayle, who was also his former teammate at RCB. This decision quickly went viral on social media, as many fans expected Kohli to pick Rohit Sharma, one of India’s most successful batters.Royal Challengers Bengaluru @RCBTweets Best T20 opener according to Virat Kohli? 👀 Watch This or That ft. Virat, on Emmvee presents RCB Shorts. 📹 #PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB Mar 15, 2026, 1:44 PM Comparing Chris Gayle and Rohit Sharma as T20 openersChris Gayle is widely known for his explosive batting in T20 format. He opened the innings in 59 T20I matches, scoring 1660 runs with an average of 31.32 and a strike rate of 141.76. His aggressive style and ability to hit big sixes made him one of the most dangerous openers in the shortest format.On the other hand, Rohit Sharma has an even stronger record as a T20 opener. He opened in 124 matches for India, scoring 3750 runs with a strike rate of 143.02. However, Rohit stepped away from T20Is in 2024 after India won the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024.Because of these impressive records, Kohli’s choice sparked debate among fans online. While some agreed that Chris Gayle’s power-hitting makes him the ideal T20 opener, others believed Rohit Sharma’s consistency and achievements make him the better pick.Meanwhile, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will soon return to action in the IPL 2026 season.Also Read- RCB Jersey IPL 2026 Price, Where To Buy Online and Offline, Sponsors