Former West Indies batter Chris Gayle believes Virat Kohli has got a lot of years left in all formats. Kohli is fit as a fiddle and has been consistent in all three formats of the game. The talisman missed the recent five-match Test series against England as he was with his wife Anushka Sharma, for the birth of his second child, Akaay.
Kohli has been a consistent performer for RCB over the years and he will look to deliver the goods once again. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli scored 639 runs for the franchise in the previous season but the team failed to qualify for the playoffs as they finished in sixth place with seven wins and as many losses.
Kohli has amassed 7263 runs in 237 IPL matches at an average of 37.25 and a strike rate of 130.02, including seven centuries and he is the highest run-getter in the history of the tournament.
Furthermore, Kohli finished the ODI World Cup 2023 as the highest run-getter with 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 95.62 and a strike rate of 90.32. Ergo, he was awarded Player of the Tournament for his consistent performances.
“Very unique, the one and only Virat Kohli is still going and still going very strong. Still got a lot of years left in him to play all formats. We’ll see what calls he makes for himself and for Indian cricket as well,” Gayle told Cricbuzz.
Gayle, who consistently delivered for the West Indies in white as well as red-ball format, added it is an honor to be compared with legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.
“Sachin and Virat, the only two guys with over 50 ODI centuries. I don’t even have the words to describe them. And to be put in the same category as them is special,” Gayle added.
“Sachin was the original trend-setter, with over 100 international centuries, which is remarkable as well. And like you said, the Universe Boss has brought entertainment and spice for all formats.”
IPL 2024 will begin on March 22 with RCB taking on defending champions CSK at Chennai.