Windies legend in his rights, Chris Gayle, stated Virat Kohli’s hundred against England in the opening Test was just the kind of inspiration that a struggling Indian batting line-up needed.
Virat Kohli smashed a sensational 149 against England on the 2nd day of the 1st Test at Birmingham. The innings helped India recover from the situations and end the day’s play on a high. He batted quite brilliantly with the tail-enders and brought up 92 runs for the last couple of wickets.
However, the other batters around him failed quite miserably. Moreover, the 2nd best was just 26 from Shikhar Dhawan.
“I was busy with a shoot in Mumbai yesterday and only watched the highlights. It was a captain’s knock from Virat. The best part was how he batted with the tail. That is the perfect start you want in a series,” Gayle was quoted as saying by reporters during a conversation at a promotional event on poker.
All the other Indian batsmen were quite poor in their judgment and gave away wickets to lose shots. Gayle stated Kohli’s innings would definitely lift the morale of the team.
“A knock like this, especially from the captain and lot have been said about his form in England, and hopefully this knock will spur him and the team during the series,” the flamboyant Jamaican said. Gayle said that India has a good chance of winning the series.”Why not? Aren’t they humans?”
When asked to compare Joe Root’s 80 with Kohli’s knock, Gayle said he didn’t see Root’s innings. He only saw his run-out and the mic-drop gesture by Kohli.
“I didn’t see Root’s 80. I only saw his run-out and the mic drop.”
Chris Gayle confident of playing the 2019 World Cup
Meanwhile, the swashbuckling opener is confident of the fact that he will be fit and ready for the 2019 World Cup. The quadrennial event is slated to be played in England and Wales next year.
“I will have to sit with the coaches and selectors and ask them about their plan. I am confident of playing the World Cup,” Gayle said.
Gayle made it pretty clear that he wants to play at least till the 2020 World Twenty in Australia. Hence he asked all of his fans not to worry.
“My plan is to play till 2020 World T20 in Australia,” he replied.
When asked if the World Cup will lose its sheen that someone like AB de Villiers won’t be there, Gayle said not to be, as he was not going anywhere.
“Chris Gayle will be there. What are you worried for.” Meanwhile, the man from Jamaica named three young Windies players as the future superstars.
“Shimron Hetmeyer, Shai Hope and Evin Lewis are the three players to watch out for,” he said.