The West Indies legend believes Kohli will top the Champions Trophy run charts and encourages Rohit to continue entertaining fans with his explosive batting.
New Delhi, February 12: Former West Indies batting legend Chris Gayle has thrown his support behind India’s Virat Kohli, backing him to surpass his record as the highest run-scorer in ICC Champions Trophy history. The ‘Universal Boss’ also extended a special message to Rohit Sharma, urging him to keep smashing sixes and playing with joy for as long as he can.
The ICC Champions Trophy is set to make a much-anticipated return on February 19, reigniting discussions about Virat Kohli’s recent struggles with the bat. Despite being under scrutiny, many fans and experts believe the batting maestro will rediscover his form on the grand stage.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Legends League Cricket event, Gayle expressed confidence in Kohli’s ability to dominate the tournament.
“Virat Kohli is just 200 runs away, so I’m sure he’ll get it. Eventually, another record will be gone. That’s the nature of the game and the nature of sport,” Gayle said.
Kohli currently boasts 529 runs in 13 Champions Trophy matches at an astounding average of 88.16. He needs 263 more runs to surpass Gayle’s record tally of 791—the highest in the tournament’s history.
The former West Indies captain also emphasized the importance of record-breaking achievements in cricket.
“Everybody has a chance to break records and set new ones, and that’s what makes the sport exciting. Hopefully, it will be a great Champions Trophy, and I wish all teams the best of luck,” he added.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma recently broke one of Gayle’s records in ODI cricket. During the second ODI against England in Cuttack, Rohit smashed seven sixes en route to a spectacular 119-run knock, overtaking Gayle’s 331 sixes in ODIs to become the second-highest six-hitter in the format.
Gayle, however, had nothing but admiration for India’s ‘Hitman.’
“Rohit has five double centuries in ODIs, so if anyone deserves to break records, it’s a player of his caliber. It’s great for the sport,” he said.
Encouraging Rohit to continue his fearless approach, Gayle added, “Keep entertaining the fans, keep hitting those sixes, and play for as long as you want. We need more sixes!”
With the ODI series against England nearing its end, India will shift its focus to the Champions Trophy, beginning their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20.
Tags: Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Cricket Records, India vs Bangladesh, Most Sixes in ODIs, RCB Partnership, West Indies Cricket, Legends League Cricket