Chris Gayle has refused to “write off” an out-of-form Virat Kohli ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 final between India and South Africa. Kohli, who has generally been India’s best player in ICC tournaments since 2014, has struggled for runs in the 2024 edition, having scored just 75 runs at an average of 10.71 in seven matches.
Despite his poor form, Gayle believes Kohli’s presence could be decisive in the final. “These things happen to superstars or world-class players such as Virat. We know how dominant he has been in previous World Cups. A bad patch can happen to anybody,” Gayle stated.
Kohli entered T20 World Cup 2024 in top form after a successful IPL 2024 where he won the Orange Cap by scoring 741 runs at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69. He also scored a century and five half-centuries.
As India looks to break a 13-year-old ICC title jinx, Gayle emphasized that big players have a knack for performing in big games. “He is in the final, and sometimes big players can be called upon and step up and win the actual game for the team as well. So you cannot write off a player like Virat Kohli without a doubt. We know how special he is, so we just have to wait and see what he delivers tomorrow,” Gayle concluded.
India faces South Africa in the T20 World Cup final on Saturday (29 June) in Barbados, with Kohli’s form potentially playing a crucial role in the outcome.
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