Chris Gayle Backs India as Favorites for ODI World Cup, Expects Virat Kohli to Shine

As anticipation builds for the upcoming ODI World Cup scheduled to take place in India from October 5 to November 19, teams around the globe are gearing up for the mega event. With the recently announced tournament schedule, which features England and New Zealand facing off in the opener and the final set for November 19, the cricketing world is abuzz with excitement. Amidst the preparations, West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle has shared his views on the host nation, India.

Gayle, known as the “Universe Boss,” believes that India is the clear favorite to lift the coveted trophy. Despite former India captain Virat Kohli not being in his most fluent form in recent years, Gayle backs him to dominate in the World Cup. The West Indies batsman, who has been a long-time teammate of Kohli at Royal Challengers Bangalore, praises the Indian skipper for his mental and physical toughness. Gayle firmly believes that Kohli’s resilience will propel him to shine on the grand stage of the World Cup.

Addressing the media, Gayle stated, “Tough times don’t last long, tough players last longer. Virat is tough mentally as well as physically. I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t go to this World Cup and dominate. As players, we always go through phases where things seem a bit dull, and you need positive energy to uplift yourself. Once we get back in the groove, we know how dangerous we can be.”

In addition to endorsing Kohli’s prowess, Gayle acknowledges that the pressure will be on the Men in Blue as they compete on home soil and carry the burden of being the favorites. While India has not clinched an ICC trophy in quite some time, a similar predicament plagues Gayle’s own West Indies team, which last tasted victory in 2016. Gayle believes that the weight of expectations will be on India’s shoulders as they strive to break their trophy drought and win in front of their home crowd.

As the countdown to the ODI World Cup begins, cricket enthusiasts worldwide eagerly await the battle between the top teams vying for glory on Indian soil. With Gayle’s endorsement of India’s chances and his unwavering faith in the abilities of Virat Kohli, expectations are soaring higher for the Men in Blue. The tournament promises to be a thrilling spectacle, showcasing the finest talents in the cricketing world as they vie for the ultimate prize in ODI cricket.