Defending champions West Indies will be riding on Chris Gayle, the T20 superstar, in this T20 World Championship and the spotlight will be on the big man who is known all over the world for his explosive batting. The 34 year old admitted that there’s always pressure when everyone expects big from him after setting such standards.
“It’s a lot of pressure to be honest with you, actually set that trend you know everybody expects a lot from me like you mentioned. It’s not only about Caribbean but the whole world want to see Chris Gayle play well and that’s what they want to see by paying.
“When I do get a chance, I try to entertain people as much as I can and about the tournament you know, we are the defending champions so we will obviously look forward to retain that, but you know there will be a lot of challenge so we want to ensure the final first but it’s a tough group. You see other groups are easy because this is T20 cricket and everyone is capable of winning the tournament,” said Gayle.
Gayle, who was there at an open media conversation at a hotel yesterday, informed that his side will definitely miss Pollard but this team has twelve players from the previous champion side which will be a plus point for them.
“We definitely miss Pollard, he is huge for us and done wonders for us and we know Pollard definitely adds the strength with the bat and ball so that’s a big loss for us. But the others are ready to do their job and looking forward to play and we have twelve players here who played in the last world cup so that’s a big plus point for us. Whoever gets the opportunity, will fill those gaps and give their best,” he said.
Gayle, who was the first batsman to smash century in the shortest format of the game and smashed many more in T20 tournaments all over the world, is hoping to smash another century in the tournament. “Obviously, I would like to score a hundred but it will depend on the situation and I am sort of batsman who can score in any wicket anywhere in the world and I am looking forward to and I would love to add for the team and get a few wins,” he said.
However being the defending champions, the Jamaican informed that every team has a chance of winning the tournament and it will be tough choose any particular side as a threat, “Honestly every team has the chance and each teams are capable, so it’s difficult to say who will win the tournament. If you ask me, I say it would be six favorites. It’s all happens on the particular day and this is the game that can be change by one particular over,” said Gayle.
The big man, who was also known for his funny reactions and his Gangnam dance in celebrations after winning the title previously in Sri Lanka, was in a funny mood yesterday as well and said funny things during the conversation and when he was asked if he remembered Sohag Gazi of Bangladesh who troubled him earlier when West Indies side came for a series.
“Did I hit six him in the first ball of the Test match (laughs). He’s a good bowler now. That would be nice, to face him again. He’s a good young man and a prospect for Bangladesh cricket and a bright future ahead,” Gayle said.
Meanwhile, Sunil Narine the number one bowler in the ICC T20 rankings, will play a vital role for his side on the spinner friendly tracks here and he said that they will be facing the teams in their group who are good against spin, including Bangladesh.
“I think we’re playing against three teams that play spin pretty good, and Bangladesh is at home, but I think once you have full confidence in yourself, anything’s possible,” said Narine.
The mystery bowler, who also holds the key role for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, said that performing well in the IPL always helped coming on to the mega tournaments, “I think the IPL brings a high level of performance. Performing in the IPL and then coming and playing a big tournament like this make it a lot easier because IPL is always a sold out crowd,” he said.