T20 World Cup: India vs Pakistan in New York going to be phenomenal, says Chris Gayle

Former West Indies batter Chris Gayle feels India vs Pakistan in New York is going to be phenomenal in the upcoming T20 World Cup. The two arch-rivals will meet each other in the T20I showpiece on 9th June at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.

When India and Pakistan last met in the T20 World Cup in 2022 at the MCG, Virat Kohli played a magnificent knock of 82 runs off 53 balls to get India over the line. India needed 28 runs to win off the final eight deliveries but Kohli was able to get the job done.

“The ICC (International Cricket Council) has been trying to get cricket on a global scale within the USA,” Gayle told AFP in an interview.

“India v Pakistan is in New York, I’m sure it’s going to be phenomenal. They (the USA) had a T20 tournament last year and it was a success. It’s a big market, we just have to hope it will be a success within the United States,” Gayle added.

Meanwhile, West Indies had failed to qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup and thus Gayle reckons the T20 World Cup will hold a lot of value for the Windies.

“We missed out on the 50-over World Cup so this will be something fantastic for the guys to actually play for something,” said Gayle, speaking via video call from Barbados.

“We just want to be in the (June 29) final here in Barbados. Anything is possible when you make it to the final.”

“I’m excited for the people, to actually see a bit of cricket,” added big-hitting opener Gayle, who in 2007 became the first batsman to score a T20 international century.

West Indies has won T20 World Cup on two occasions and they are always a dangerous team in the shortest form of the game as they have some impressive power-hitters in the team.

India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5th.