Not Shubman Gill! Chris Gayle claims THIS batter will be the most dominant force in the 2023 ODI World Cup despite consistency issue

Kohli, since that lean patch phase, has smashed five tons across all the formats but despite that, he is not consistent at the moment.

Not Shubman Gill! Chris Gayle claims THIS batter will be the most dominant force in the 2023 ODI World Cup despite consistency issue

Chris Gayle (Image via Telegraph India)

The 2023 ICC ODI World Cup is around the corner and West Indies legend Chris Gayle is predicting that former India captain Virat Kohli will stay ahead of everyone to amass heaps of runs in the tournament. Gayle has played alongside Kohli for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and praised the Indian skipper for his mental toughness which helped him overcome that dull lean-patch and century draught phase.

Kohli played a pivotal role in the 2011 World Cup final en route to India’s victory by six wickets against Sri Lanka. This year, though India will be the favorite to win the cup at home, still there are many issues that need to be solved beforehand to ensure India’s smooth run in the World Cup. Kohli, since that lean patch phase, has smashed five tons across all the formats but despite that, he is not consistent at the moment. But Gayle believes the 34-year-old will dominate in the impending tournament.

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“Not only for Virat but every player in their career always goes through these patches. Tough times don’t last long, you know, but tough players last longer and Virat is one of those players who’s mentally tough and physically as well. I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t go and dominate this World Cup. He has done it for a few years [can do the same] as well,” Gayle told PTI.

West Indies‘s, who are two-time ODI World Cup champions, situation is quite upsetting and it’s impossible now for them to qualify for the World Cup. But India as a hosts have already qualified and are set to kick start their campaign on October 8 against Australia in Chennai.

Related: “Virat and his eyes seemed like he was possessed,” Ravichandran Ashwin relives drama-filled T20 WC last over against Pakistan

Virat Kohli’s stats in ODI World Cups

Not Shubman Gill! Chris Gayle claims THIS batsman will be the most dominant force in the 2023 ODI World Cup despite consistency issue
Virat Kohli (Image via Twitter)

In the ODI World Cups, Kohli has scored 1030 runs in 26 innings an average of 46.81, including two centuries and six fifties. His highest score was a 107-run knock. He stands 17th on the list of batsmen with the most runs in the ODI World Cup ( the list is topped by Sachin Tendulkar with 2278 runs off 45 matches).

In the last World Cup in England, Kohli could score 443 runs off nine matches, including five fifties, with the highest being an 82-run knock. India’s campaign was put to an end by New Zealand by 18 runs. It will be interesting to see how Kohli and the Men in Blue will fare in the prestigious tournament.

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