Kicking off on April 9, Indian Premier League (IPL) is set
to return once again, bringing with it the T20 frenzy that India savours each year.
The first match will be played between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and five-time
champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in Chennai, with the final scheduled for May 30 in
Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.

Beginning in 2008, there have been various players
representing various sides so far. Expectedly, during the same period, several records
have been made in batting, bowling and various aspects of fielding in IPL.
While not all of them might be up to be contested this year, there exist many
which can be broken in IPL 2021 by the veterans, or by the talented, fresh
faces in the game.

Also read: Team India skipper Virat Kohli says ‘no rest days’, starts training for IPL 2021

Listed below are a few of the records in IPL which can be broken
this year:

Most number of centuries: Caribbean power hitter
Chris Gayle still holds the record of scoring the most number of centuries in
the IPL (six). Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli, on the other
hand, currently stands with five centuries already acquired in the league, and
can level himself alongside, or even above, his former teammate in RCB.

Most number of wickets in IPL: Lasith Malinga,
the former leader of Mumbai Indians pace attack, has till date the most number
of IPL wickets across seasons: 170. The second position is occupied by Amit
Mishra, set to play in IPL for Delhi Capitals this year, with 160 wickets.
While Malinga is a spent force, the situation at hand presents a spectacular
opportunity for Mishra, who would be looking to place himself over Malinga,
going beyond the 170-mark and what the famed Sri Lankan speedster brought to
the crease.

Also read: Players who earned Team India call-up with their IPL 2020 performance

Most wickets in a season: Dwayne Bravo currently
holds the record of most wickets taken during an IPL season, with 32 to his
name during the 2013 season. South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada, representing Delhi Capitals,
scalped a neat total of 30 wickets in the 2020-2021 season. The Protea joined DC
in 2017 and has largely been their lead pace bowler throughout the last few
years. If he keeps his fiery form intact, chances are Rabada would break
through the 32-wicket record.

Most career catches: Former Indian captain and
Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni is on the brink of levelling with Dinesh
Karthik when it comes to career catches. Karthik, who is at 110, has a solid
chance of being overtaken by Dhoni, who has 109 catches to his name. With Chennai
Super Kings playing their first game against Delhi Capitals on April 10, ahead
of Kolkata Knight Riders’ playing their inaugural match of the season against
CSK on April 21, Dhoni would have a very plausible chance of overtaking Karthik.

Also read: IPL 2021: Revamped Delhi Capitals looking to build on last year’s final

All said and done, cricket is as unexpected a game as it can
get, and IPL, with its trademark inconsistency in terms of personal and
team-wise performance, can really roll the dice and turn up or down a few
notches the outcome of a game based on momentary performances. Keeping this in
mind, one should treat the list above as tentative and not a prediction.