"Universal Boss" Chris Gayle has come out and praised Indian Captain Virat Kohli for playing one of the best knocks in modern-day Test match cricket. Virat's gritty and disciplined effort got him a magnificent 149 on Day 2 of the first Test at Edgbaston and ensured that he singlehandedly keep his team alive in the game. Virat's teammates, either side Ravichandran Ashwin, left a lot to be desired though but Gayle believes captain's magnificent effort should spur on the rest of his teammates. 

Gayle, who is Virat's former Royal Challengers Bangalore mate, was quoted saying, “I was busy with a shoot in Mumbai yesterday and only watched the highlights. It was a captain’s knock from Virat. The best part was how he batted with the tail. That is the perfect start you want in a series,” 

“A knock like this, especially from the captain and lot have been said about his form in England and hopefully this knock will spur him and the team during the series,” 

When he got asked whether India could win the series against England, the big man from Jamaica replied, “Why not? Aren’t they humans?”

Asked to compare Joe Root’s 80 with Kohli’s 100, Gayle cheekily replied: “I didn’t see Root’s 80. I only saw his run-out and the mic drop.”

Gayle's ambition right now at this stage of his career is to feature in the next World Cup events for the West Indies. Gayle talked about his plans for the future and said, “I will have to sit with the coaches and selectors and ask them about their plan. I am confident of playing the World Cup, My plan is to play till 2020 World T20 in Australia,” 

There has been a suggestion that to safeguard international cricket, ICC will introduce a cap of two T20 leagues per player. Gayle talked about this and said, “Is it confirmed? I dont think that will happen,”

Giving his views about the 100-ball city-based league that ECB are looking to introduce, Gayle said, “I am looking forward to it. I want to see what it is like. I want to see the full details and the rules. We just have to wait and see how players respond to it.”

(Inputs from Hindustan Times)