Though a debate over better players across eras remains a difficult one to justify, former India opening batter Virender Sehwag picked Virat Kohli as the No. 1 batter in ODI cricket history, ahead of his long-term teammate Sachin Tendulkar. Despite the fact that many reckon Tendulkar as the ‘God’ of cricket, a player who defined an era of cricket with his batting brilliance, Sehwag could only give him the No. 2 spot on his list. But, the former attacking opening batter did explain why he picked Virat over Sachin.

In a chat on Cricbuzz, Sehwag picked his top 5 batters in ODI cricket history. The list began with the legendary West Indies batter Chris Gayle, who was given the No. 5 spot. Gayle has a whopping 10480 runs to his name in the format in 304 appearances.

“Chris Gayle was a great batsman and opener. I remember India came to the West Indies in 2002-03, and Chris Gayle hit three centuries in a six-match series. He was the first player I saw at the international level who used to hit sixes from the back foot to fast bowlers,” he said.

The No. 4 spot was given to AB de Villiers, former South Africa captain, who aggregated 9577 runs in 228 ODIs over the course of his career. He was followed by ex Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq who scored 11739 runs in 350 innings.

“No. 4 is AB de Villiers. I really liked the way he used to play. He’s the only batsman who can hit sixes off-balance. No. 3 is Inzamam-ul-Haq. He’s one of the best ODI players from Asia. Inzamam used to come out to bat at No. 4 and used to control the match. So, I learned from him how to take the match to the end. How you can control the match. At that time, it was very difficult to chase seven or eight runs in an over. But Inzamam used to do it with a smile. Because he used to calculate when and who to hit sixes,” Sehwag added.

While there’s no denying the camaraderie that Sehwag has with Tendulkar, he still preferred to pick Kohli over the ‘God’ on the list.

“Everyone’s favourite and my role model, Sachin Tendulkar. You know how it feels to walk on the ground with him? You’re going to the jungle with a lion. Everyone’s eyes are on the lion. And I used to quietly make my runs,” said Sehwag on Tendulkar.

Sehwag firmly believes it is quite difficult that the cricket world will be able to see a player with as much consistency as Kohli in ODI cricket.

“Virat Kohli is at number one. Virat Kohli jaisa khiladi shayad he aane wale samay mein aisa consistent player aaye jisko ek tag diya gaya hai-Chasemaster. In the beginning, he wasn’t the Virat Kohli who he is today. He also took his time and learned a lot. And after 2011-12, he has changed a lot. In his fitness and in his consistency. He has played amazing innings,” Sehwag concluded.

Virat Kohli may have been going through a poor run of form but the senior Indian batter remains the “best player in the world,” feels former West Indian swashbuckler Chris Gayle. The 36-year-old Kohli endured yet another poor outing as he was dismissed for just five runs in the second ODI against England in Cuttack on Sunday. But Gayle, who has played alongside Kohli at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL, remains unperturbed by the Indian’s lean stretch. “He is still the best player in the world regardless of the form, Virat Kohli is still the best player, the stats prove that, how many centuries across formats he has scored as well,” Gayle said on the sidelines of an event here on Tuesday.

“It’s just one of those things that we cricketers go through in patches. I know it is coming at the back end of his career as well, but these things do happen, so he just needs to pick himself up and come back again.” Kohli has been struggling for runs in international cricket of late, but he was expected to find form in the ODIs, which he has dominated like no other for the longest time. Kohli’s return to the format, however, was not a great one as he was caught behind off Adil Rashid in the second match after missing the opening game due to a sore knee.

Asked if Kohli can break Gayle’s record for most number of runs scored in the Champions Trophy, he said, “It is easy for him just to get 200 runs (more to surpass Gayle). I don’t know how many games they will be playing but I am sure he can get over 200 runs, and I am sure he will get a century for sure, so it’s just a matter of time before he goes on to break that record.” Known for his flamboyance besides his big-hitting capabilities, Gayle called Indian captain Rohit Sharma the “new king in town” after the Mumbaikar broke the Jamaican’s record for most number of sixes in the ODI format.

“Congratulations to Rohit, sports always need a new entertainer and Rohit has been entertaining all these years as well I have done it alongside him. So he is the new king in town now. So congrats to him, and hopefully, he goes on to hit more sixes.” Asked about youngster Abhishek Sharma’s blistering hundred against England in the fifth T20I, Gayle said, “I heard about his innings, it was a cracking innings and for a youngster to do such a thing on an international platform, is huge and fantastic.” Gayle also expressed his disappointment at West Indies’ absence in the Champions Trophy.

“I am disappointed, no West Indies in the Champions Trophy but it is good to have the Champions Trophy back, so I am looking forward to it.

“Hopefully, it will be an entertaining one. I know it is actually taking place in Pakistan and Dubai, so hopefully, we will have some entertaining cricket.” Asked to pick his semifinalists for the evnt starting February 19, Gayle said, “I’m going to be going off just my mind — India, England, Australia, and probably New Zealand.”

File image of Rohit Sharma© BCCI/Sportzpics

South African cricketer Heinrich Klaasen admitted that he is hesitant to try India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav’s shots and also revealed his thoughts on T20 cricket, his memorable innings and a few personal favourites. Asked to describe his batting style in one word, Klaasen replied simply, “Explosive.” When it came to naming the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) T20 player, he said on JioCinema’s Q20s show, “I would say… Suryakumar Yadav probably.”

Known for his hard-hitting approach, Klaasen shared that his favourite shot is the “pick-up pull shot” and named Jasprit Bumrah as the “toughest bowler to hit out in T20s.” When asked to pick a shot he’d like to borrow from a batter, past or present, he replied, “It would be a combination of the scoop of AB de Villiers and Suryakumar Yadav. They both have this technique to hit fine leg off straight balls, which is phenomenal.”

Reflecting on his T20 career, Klaasen recalled two standout performances against India – his 81 in 2022 or 69 in 2018. He chose the former as his favourite. “Probably the 81. That was the better one in tougher conditions,” he remarked.

Klaasen named Yuzvendra Chahal as “the funniest non-South African player” he’s played with and shared his love for butter chicken as his favourite Indian dish.

For inspiration from other sports, Klaasen named multiple Formula 1 World Drivers Championship winner Lewis Hamilton, saying, “I wish I had the ability to drive cars like him.”

Klassen also suggested that Nicholas Pooran is the one batter who could potentially score a double hundred in T20 cricket. When asked who he’d trust to bat for his life, he replied, “Probably Hashim Amla.”

Speaking about the one shot he’s always wanted to try but hesitated on, Klassen said, “The one that Suryakumar Yadav plays over fine leg – Supla Shot. I don’t like getting into line too much,” he admitted with a laugh.

West Indies great Chris Gayle picked legendary cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the most successful captain for India, adding that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have also done their jobs well as the Indian skippers. Dhoni captained India in a whopping 200 ODIs and won 110 matches out of those. India lost 74 ODIs under his leadership, while 16 games ended up as a no-result. He had led India to victory in three major International Cricket Council (ICC) trophies: the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007, the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011, and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013.

Moreover, Dhoni has played most international matches as captain 332 across all formats. Under Him, India won 178 matches while losing 120. In the IPL, he led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to five titles.

“Dhoni has been the most successful captain for India. The guy has actually set the trend and overall, Rohit Sharma did his job well and Virat Kohli did his job pretty much,” Gayle told IANS.

Speaking about the toughest bowler he faced in his career, Gayle cheekily replied, “The toughest bowler, is he born or is he still alive? I’m not sure. So, all bowlers are tough because every bowler tries and gets a chance to pick a wicket.”

“Every baller can actually just take one ball to get here, but at the same time, it’s fun going up against some quality top-class fast bowlers and spinners as well. Every bowler is pretty much tough, but the ‘Universe Boss’ is just tougher,” he added.

Gayle, who is currently playing for Gujarat Giants in the Legends League Cricket, also shared his thoughts for the tournament and expressed his joy at sharing a dressing room with former India opener Shikhar Dhawan.

“I’ve been around for a month now and this is my first game. I joined the tournament late, but it was actually good fun last year and a bit of rain interrupted the tournament this year as well. So, I’ve been a setback with a wicked as well, low scoring as well; I want to see more entertainment. Hopefully they can work on that but overall, there are some quality retired places.

“So, it’s fantastic to actually be a part of this once again and to share a dressing room with the likes of Shikar Dhawan. Legends League is actually making up movements,” he said.

As the LLC enters its third leg, starting Sunday at the Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu before moving to Srinagar for the final, Gayle expressed his excitement about visiting Kashmir—a place in India he has never visited before.

“I’ve never been to Srinagar. It’s going to be my first time so that’s another tick on my list in India, one more state that I’m actually going to visit. So I’m actually looking forward to Srinagar. Is quite close to Kashmir… I think I’m looking forward to it because I’ve never been to that side of India. I’m really excited,” said Gayle.

The West Indian, who holds the record for the most sixes in IPL history, also expressed his desire to be part of an IPL franchise as a mentor or coach to share his knowledge and experience with young players.

“That’d be cool to be in the IPL. I’d like to be among a team, you know; that’ll be something cool. I’ve got loads of experience to share; I’ve been someone who has been dominant as well. I would love to be a part of it without a doubt to share my knowledge and my experience in the IPL.

–IANS

bc/

Estonia batter Sahil Chauhan smashed the quickest T20 century (in 27 balls) and struck most number of sixes (18) in the format in an international game against hosts Cyprus in Episkopi on Monday. Chauhan broke Jan-Nicol Loftie Eaton’s record for the fastest T20I hundred, which came off 33 balls and lasted less than four months. It was also the fastest century in all T20s, eclipsing Chris Gayle‘s 30-ball innings in IPL 2013. The Indian-origin Chauhan also made it to the top of the table for most sixes in a men’s T20I innings.

Two matches were scheduled on the opening day of the six-match bilateral series with Estonia winning both.

After being dismissed for a first-ball duck in the first game, in which Estonia chased down Cyprus’ 195 for 7 in the last over, Chauhan showed his hitting prowess in the next match.

Batting first, Cyprus scored 191 for 7.

Estonia had a terrible start, with both the openers departing inside eight balls with just nine runs on the board.

But then came in Chauhan, who was in his elements and used his long handle from the word go to dismantle Cyprus’ bowling attack.

He scored his runs at an unbelievable strike rate of 351.21.

During his knock of 144* in just 41 balls, Sahil smashed six boundaries and 18 sixes. His runs came at a strike rate of over 351.

The fastest T20I century earlier belonged to Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton of Namibia, who smashed a 33-ball ton against Nepal in February 2024. Sahil’s effort is also the fastest century in T20I cricket.

The knock by Sahil had 18 sixes, the most by a player in a men’s T20I innings, outdoing Afghanistan’s Hazratullah Zazai and New Zealand’s Finn Allen, who had 16 sixes each in their record-breaking knocks of 162 and 137.

In the second game, Cyprus made 191/7 in their 20 overs, with Taranjit Singh (44 in 17 balls, with two fours and five sixes) being the top-scorer. Estonia chased it down in just 13 overs with six wickets in hand, with the next-highest score being Bilal Masud (21*).

Estonia now lead the six-match series in Cyrpus 2-0, having chased down a target of 196 in the opening match of Monday’s double-header with three balls and five wickets remaining.

However, on that against Chauhan could not have had a more contrasting impact with the bat, dismissed for a golden duck.

The series continues with another double-header on Tuesday, June 18 in Episkopi.

With ANI inputs

Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi has been announced as a tournament ambassador for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 which will be held in the West Indies and the USA, ICC said in a release on Friday. With this announcement, Afridi joins an illustrious group of ambassadors, featuring India stalwart Yuvraj Singh, ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle and the fastest man on earth Usain Bolt. Afridi is synonymous with Pakistan’s most memorable moments in T20 World Cup history. He played a pivotal role in their journey to the final in the inaugural tournament in 2007 and their triumph in the 2009 edition.

Afridi came in clutch for Pakistan in both those years – he was Player of the Tournament in the 2007 edition where they fell on the final hurdle to arch-rivals India. However, they were quick to put that loss behind them and got their hands on the trophy in the next edition, where Afridi was the Player of the Match in both the semi-final against South Africa and the finale for an all-round performance against Sri Lanka.

The former Pakistan captain cherished his memories of the T20 World Cup and expressed his elation at joining the upcoming edition as a tournament ambassador.

“The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is an event that is very close to my heart. From being Player of the Tournament in the inaugural edition to lifting the trophy in 2009, some of my favourite career highlights have come from competing on this stage,” said Afridi as quoted by ICC.

“T20 World Cups have gone from strength to strength in recent years, and I’m thrilled to be part of this edition, where we will see more teams, more matches and even more drama than ever before. I am particularly excited to witness the India v Pakistan fixture on 9 June. It is one of the great rivalries in sport and New York will be a fitting stage for this unmissable encounter between two great teams,” the former Pakistan skipper added.

The ICC General Manager also expressed his feelings on the appointment of Afridi. “Shahid competed in six ICC Men’s T20 World Cups, two of which as captain and delivering a Player of the Match performance when winning the trophy in 2009, so who better to join our all-star Ambassador team,” Claire Furlong said.

“He’s a fan favourite around the world and alongside Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle and eight-time Olympic gold-medallist Usain Bolt, will be bringing fans closer to the event ahead of what is set to be the biggest T20 World Cup ever,” Furlong added.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup kicks off on 1 June with co-hosts USA taking on Canada at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.

Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle in RCB dressing room© X (Twitter)

Chennai Super Kings star MS Dhoni with RCB’s Virat Kohli© X (formerly Twitter)

Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru player Chris Gayle joined his old teammate Virat Kohli in the franchise’s dressing room at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Saturday. Gayle who once opened the innings alongside Virat Kohli for RCB, was elated to see his former side securing a heroic victory against Chennai Super Kings to qualify for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs. After entering the dressing room, Gayle recreated his old celebration with Kohli before giving the RCB stalwart a big hug.

Gayle witnessed RCB make history at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium following their 27-run win against the Chennai Super Kings on Saturday.

Against all odds, they sealed their spot in the final berth of the IPL playoffs. The Challengers became the first team to qualify for the playoffs after having just one win in their first seven games of the season.

Virat & Gayle Celebration

pic.twitter.com/gxOiBI6LXi

— V I P E R (@VIPERoffl) May 19, 2024

Chris Gayle’s Instagram post.

– ‘Long live, the King. Nothing but respect and love’. pic.twitter.com/gVg180CL1U

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 19, 2024

During the game, the RCB Hall of Fame opened up about his love for the franchise. He even joked about coming in as an impact substitute if the team needs a player.

“As you can see jersey still fits so if they need an extra man, I can be the impact player. It is good to see the fans. RCB forever, I will forever be an RCB fan,” Gayle said in a video posted by RCB on X.

Universe Boss Chris Gayle was in the house last night, ready to step in as Impact Sub!

‘RCB Forever’ – he says reminiscing his playing days and supporting the Men In Red Blue and Gold! #PlayBold #RCB #ChrisGayle #RCBvCSK pic.twitter.com/RougFPSZEx

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 19, 2024

The RCB fans have witnessed Gayle break and rescript records at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. In this stadium, Gayle smashed 175* off just 66 deliveries against Pune Warriors in the IPL 2013.

After more than 10 years, Gayle’s blitz stands tall as the highest score in the T20 format. His record-breaking knock was laced with 13 boundaries and 17 towering sixes.

He still has the record for the most maximums in an inning by a batter in the history of the cash-rich league. Gayle opened up about his love for playing in Chinnaswamy and the electrifying atmosphere that is created by the fans.

“It is always good to be back where you have fun memories. It is good to see the guys in a very important game. For me, it is very special to be right here at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. One thing I noticed the roof, brand new, I know I have done some damage. I hope someone can put a dent in there and make it entertaining like the Universe Boss,” Gayle said.

“I got goosebumps. This is the best place to play cricket, the atmosphere is brilliant and the fans played a big part during my career with RCB,” Gayle added.

Coming to the match, with 218/5 on board, RCB managed to restrict CSK before they could reach 201 to better their net run rate. RCB stood victorious with a 27-run win and sealed their spot in the final four.

With ANI inputs