Virat Kohli can only get better: Chris Gayle

By Anonymous -
Mumbai, Chris Gayle is easily one of the game's biggest superstars in every sense of the word. The strapping Jamaican has a couple of Test triple hundreds to his name apart from scoring the quickest double hundred in the recent ODI World Cup, which was incidentally the first-ever in the marquee event. Gayle also holds the record score (175) in the IPL. Simply put, he's cricket's version of 'Whomping Willow' who has put the fear of God into bowlers world over. Add to that his flamboyant lifestyle and you have all it takes to make one a megastar.

We caught up with the 35-year-old as he mixed business with pleasure at the tony Stock Exchange Bar on a lively Friday night. Excerpts:

Every time you seem to be down and out you come back stronger. What's the secret?

Chris is never out. That's the nature of the game. Things sometimes look down. You should understand the situation. Having said that, I am looking forward to start afresh against the Mumbai Indians on Sunday.

The same can be said about the West Indian team. They never cease to surprise. Did Colin Graves' comments, that the West Indies are a mediocre side, spur the team?

If you look at it...we really turned around and bit England. To be honest they are a mediocre side. If they were so good a side they should have beaten us three-nil. But having drawn the three-Test series 1-1 it was straight back into Graves' face. England are the mediocre side now.

Why do West Indian players need such barbs to get them fired?

We use the negatives to our advantage. At least most of us do it. When people speak low at you, you want to get back hard even more. You've got to respect your opponents. If you show no respect you get no respect. As simple as that.

You're a trendsetter as far as celebrations go. Talk us through about your latest after getting a hundred against Kings XI?

I am a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo. He's probably the best player in the world right now. I've followed his career from Manchester United to Real Madrid. I was watching him play against Juventus in the Champions League the other night and I thought to myself if I get a hundred I'll celebrate like he does and I did it.

How is Virat Kohli shaping up as a captain?

Virat can only get better and better. The more you captain the better you get. Captaining so many people from different territories (in the IPL) is not easy as well. But he should know his Indian players well... he plays so much with them. He should know them well. As when you start getting respect from the players, your job as a captain gets easier. Like I said, captaincy is not an easy job.

What about your RCB teammate Sarfaraz. Has he left you guys impressed?

Sarfaraz is a bright future for Indian cricket. He's learning so much from the experienced guys in the side. He's grabbed his opportunity with both hands. He set the stage on fire against Rajasthan Royals by scoring 47 off 21 balls. He's batted well and he's showing some consistency too. A 17-year-old can only get better from here. IPL has done wonders for another cricketer.

We've seen you leading your life to the fullest. But there's another side to you and that of giving something back to your country through your foundation?

I've done a lot of things back at home. I don't like to put it in the paper. We're running schools, hospitals raising funds for them. From getting the kids computers to buying them cricket kits. We play a charity game every year where the proceeds go towards the cause. We have a charity game coming up on August 2 and I am trying to get as many international players for it. It's always good to give back to the society. I've been through the struggle myself as a kid so I know what it is like.

Where's your career heading? Will you tour India when they come back to complete their unfinished tour?

I want to continue playing international cricket. I am struggling with an injury right now. I'll be playing couple of T20 games in England after the IPL and then get busy with the charity game. Then I'll have a couple of months rest. If the West Indies team does tour India later this year, you'll see me here.

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