India Have the Spinners to Beat South Africa at Home: Chris Gayle
With just 72 hours to go for the 1st Test between India and South Africa in Mohali, West Indies' Master Blaster Chris Gayle believes that despite India's loss to the Proteas in the ODI and Twenty20 Series, the hosts will start as slight favorites in the four-Test series.
1. Would you rate India as the favorites in the upcoming Test series against South Africa? (Ravichandran Ashwin is Our Main Threat: Faf du Plessis)
Chris Gayle: They are home and it should be even-stevens to be honest with you. It is very difficult to beat India at home regardless of whatever may have happened in the last ODI series. South Africa are a confident side as well. But, in the last Test series India played was outside and they won. So, at home they should do actually better.
2. India have been struggling with finding quality spinners, do you feel that is going to work as an advantage for teams touring India now?
Chris Gayle: It's surprising to me that India is struggling to find quality spinners. I think they have quality spinners here in India to be honest with you. Things might not go according to plan and lot of questions might be raised but they have quality spinners here for sure.
3. The debate as regard to where Virat Kohli should bat, what is your opinion at 3 or 4?
Chris Gayle: Virat should bat at number 3. I think he is a solid guy to bat at that position. ÂÂ
4. Since you have played under Virat in the IPL, would you say he should now take over as the ODI and T20 captain for India?
Chris Gayle: His time will come. It's not something to rush into to be a Captain. You have a strong leader here in MS Dhoni, who has done wonders for Indian cricket and changed a lot of fortunes for players as well. So, two different guys, two different leaders. It's not going to be any difficult for the players to rally around because it's a team and I do not see any problem in both of them.
5. The 2016 ICC World Twenty20 is in India in a few months from now, do you think India has lost the advantage since most of the players know how to play in these conditions because of the IPL
Chris Gayle: Not so much to be honest with you. Even though a lot of teams play here, there is not a lot of disadvantage for India but it's going to be tough in the coming year. And I am sure there would be an advantage for other teams who spend a lot of time here playing in the IPL to get acclimatized to the conditions. So, that is going to be a plus for the outsider.
6. Who would you put as favorites apart from India to win that title?
Chris Gayle: India are slightly favorites to win the World Twenty20