Chris Gayle lauded Virat Kohli as a "world beater" on Tuesday but
warned that the West Indies were ready to upset hosts India in their
World Twenty20 semi-final this week.
Kohli has excelled so far at the tournament and hit an unbeaten 82 to
lead India to an improbable victory over Australia in a do-or-die final
group match on Sunday.Chris Gayle lauded Virat Kohli as a "world beater" on Tuesday but
warned that the West Indies were ready to upset hosts India in their
World Twenty20 semi-final this week.
Kohli has excelled so far at the tournament and hit an unbeaten 82 to
lead India to an improbable victory over Australia in a do-or-die final
group match on Sunday.
The 27-year-old's exploits led Indian great Kapil Dev to describe him
as "a genius with the bat", while some commentators even went as far as
drawing parallels with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
Big-hitting Gayle said the form of Kohli, who is the highest scorer
of players still in the tournament with 184 runs, was "no surprise" and
jokingly urged him not to fire on all cylinders on Thursday.
"I have said it over the years that he is going to be the world
beater he is today," Gayle told reporters in Mumbai ahead of the
last-four clash at the Wankhede Stadium.
"I am hoping, please don't fire, Virat. He can still get runs but for
a losing cause. We'll be happy with that as well," joked Gayle, 36.
Kohli also steered his side to victory over arch-rivals Pakistan
earlier in the tournament with a composed half century, but Gayle
stressed that the Windies wouldn't direct their efforts solely towards
India's talisman.
"We are not going to focus on only Virat, there are so many
match-winners there and anyone of them can actually fire on any
particular day," he said.
"It is very difficult to pinpoint one particular player in the Indian
team. It is a very good all-round team, a good fielding team as well.
"That's why India are the favourites. It is always going to be
difficult to beat them here. But like I said, West Indies are ready for
an upset," Gayle added.
The destructive left-hander smashed a 47-ball century that included
11 sixes in the Windies' opening-match win over England, but he has
failed to reach those heights since as the Caribbean team topped Group
One.
A hamstring injury meant Gayle didn't bat against Sri Lanka, while he
only made four runs against South Africa before being rested for the
defeat to Afghanistan.
But Gayle said he was "mentally prepared" for whatever India have to
throw at him as the Windies seek to continue their bid for a second
World T20 title after their 2012 triumph.
They will have to overcome India without top-order batsman Andre Fletcher, however.
The 28-year-old, who scored 84 not out in the West Indies' win over
Sri Lanka, has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament after
injuring his right hamstring in Sunday's match against Afghanistan.
He has been replaced in the squad by Lendl Simmons, the International Cricket Council said in a statement late Tuesday.
The 27-year-old's exploits led Indian great Kapil Dev to describe him
as "a genius with the bat", while some commentators even went as far as
drawing parallels with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
Big-hitting Gayle said the form of Kohli, who is the highest scorer
of players still in the tournament with 184 runs, was "no surprise" and
jokingly urged him not to fire on all cylinders on Thursday.
"I have said it over the years that he is going to be the world
beater he is today," Gayle told reporters in Mumbai ahead of the
last-four clash at the Wankhede Stadium.
"I am hoping, please don't fire, Virat. He can still get runs but for
a losing cause. We'll be happy with that as well," joked Gayle, 36.
Kohli also steered his side to victory over arch-rivals Pakistan
earlier in the tournament with a composed half century, but Gayle
stressed that the Windies wouldn't direct their efforts solely towards
India's talisman.
"We are not going to focus on only Virat, there are so many
match-winners there and anyone of them can actually fire on any
particular day," he said.
"It is very difficult to pinpoint one particular player in the Indian
team. It is a very good all-round team, a good fielding team as well.
"That's why India are the favourites. It is always going to be
difficult to beat them here. But like I said, West Indies are ready for
an upset," Gayle added.
The destructive left-hander smashed a 47-ball century that included
11 sixes in the Windies' opening-match win over England, but he has
failed to reach those heights since as the Caribbean team topped Group
One.
A hamstring injury meant Gayle didn't bat against Sri Lanka, while he
only made four runs against South Africa before being rested for the
defeat to Afghanistan.
But Gayle said he was "mentally prepared" for whatever India have to
throw at him as the Windies seek to continue their bid for a second
World T20 title after their 2012 triumph.
They will have to overcome India without top-order batsman Andre Fletcher, however.
The 28-year-old, who scored 84 not out in the West Indies' win over
Sri Lanka, has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament after
injuring his right hamstring in Sunday's match against Afghanistan.
He has been replaced in the squad by Lendl Simmons, the International Cricket Council said in a statement late Tuesday.
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