Describing Virat Kohli as a very strong cricketer mentally and physically, West Indies batsman Chris Gayle has said that he will dominate the World Cup in India and believes that apart from India, Pakistan, England and New Zealand can reach the last four. Are .
The One Day World Cup is to be played in India from October 5 to November 19. The Indian team last won the Champions Trophy in 2013 under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni but India has remained empty-handed in ICC tournaments for the past decade.
Gayle said in a conversation with the language, “Why only India, even the West Indies have not won the ICC title since 2016. India has the best players and it will also get the benefit of playing on its soil.” But there will also be pressure on the Indian team to win the title because everyone in India wants the Indian team to win on their soil.
Asked which teams according to him would reach the semi-finals in the World Cup, Gayle, who was here at the launch of the ‘Indian Veterans Premier League’, said, “It is a very tough question but I think India, Pakistan, England And New Zealand will be four teams.
Gayle, who played with Kohli in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore, said the former India captain will continue to dominate in the World Cup after saying goodbye to a bad phase through the IPL.
He said, “Not only Virat but every player goes through bad times. Tough times don’t last long but strong players last long.” Virat is mentally and physically strong. He will continue to dominate in the World Cup by maintaining the same rhythm.
Kohli scored 53 in 14 matches in IPL 2023. Scored 639 runs at an average of 25 including two centuries and six half-centuries.
Gayle said, “There are times in a players career when everything seems hopeless and positive energy is needed to boost morale. After that the player returns to his familiar style.
Taking a jibe at the hype around the World Cup matches between India and Pakistan, he said that the cricketers of both the teams should have demanded more money. The World Cup match between India and Pakistan is to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 15 and for this the prices of hotels in the city have started skyrocketing.
Gayle said, “Whenever these two teams play among themselves and especially in the World Cup, there is a lot of earning. A single match can earn as much as an entire ICC tournament. I think the players of both the teams should demand more money. A match brings in so much money whether it is broadcast revenue or ticket earnings.
Two-time champions West Indies are struggling to qualify for the tournament and Gayle is deeply hurt by it. He said, “It is very sad to see the team in this condition. It will be very difficult for them and I will be very disappointed if there is no West Indies team in the World Cup in India. Hopefully things will get better for West Indies cricket in the future.
Asked about players preferring T20 cricket over Test cricket, the player, who has played franchise leagues across the world, said, “Everything has changed in the last few years. There is so much money in cricket now that it has become a huge business. The sad thing is that the dominance of the big two-three teams (India, England, Australia) is leading to the death of cricket.
“Smaller teams also need equal pay so that new talent comes to the fore,” he said. Women’s cricket also needs equal pay. They are not getting the money they deserve.
Asked about the future of the one-day format, he said, “Nothing can be speculated now.” A lot will depend on this World Cup. Let’s see how successful it is and whether any changes are felt.”
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