Chris Gayle has praised Virat Kohli as a phenomenal cricketer and expressed hope that the Indian batter continues his international career for as long as possible. Gayle, who shared the changing room with Kohli during his days with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League, spoke to ANI on the sidelines of the World Championship of Legends, where he is representing West Indies Champions.
Speaking about Kohli’s impact on world cricket, Gayle highlighted the Indian batter’s consistency and dominance across formats, particularly in the IPL where both players have competed. The West Indies legend drew on his direct experience of playing alongside Kohli to frame his observations about the Indian cricketer’s professionalism and standing among the sport’s elite players.
“The man is a legend, the man is unique, he is phenomenal. I cannot find any other word to actually uplift Virat because, as I said, everybody is calling him the King Kohli, he has done so much for the game of cricket as well, and hopefully he can carry on as long as possible, especially in the international scene. He has been dominant in the IPL as well. So, like I said, great guy, great person,” Gayle said.
Kohli’s dominant 2026 ODI form
Kohli’s 2026 ODI season has been marked by exceptional form. In nine matches this year, the Indian batter has accumulated 552 runs across nine innings at an average of 69.00 with a strike rate of 117.94. His tally includes two centuries and three half-centuries, with a highest score of 139 not out.
During the recent ODI series against West Indies in October, Kohli demonstrated his run-scoring prowess across three innings, totalling 168 runs. In the opening match of the series, he played an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls while India chased a target of approximately 290 runs, showcasing his ability to construct match-winning innings under pressure.
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Kohli’s career ODI record and upcoming fixtures
Kohli is the second-highest run-scorer in ODIs of all time, with 15,109 runs at an average of 58.78, with 55 centuries and 79 fifties and a best score of 183. The run-chaser will continue his journey as an ODI-exclusive player with an eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup. He will feature in a five-match ODI series against New Zealand away from home from November 4 onwards, and then in three ODIs against Sri Lanka at home from December 13 onwards, to end the calendar year.
On West Indies’ record-breaking run-chase against India in the second T20I, which saw the two-time T20 World Cup champions chase 250 courtesy of a 45-ball century from skipper Shai Hope and a monstrous 84 in 37 balls from Sherfane Rutherford, Gayle lauded the batters and highlighted the lack of help for bowlers in Indian conditions.
