Former West Indies batter Chris Gayle has rated Virat Kohli as the best player in the world. Gayle has put his weight behind Kohli to find his lost form at the top level. Kohli scored 190 runs in five Test matches on the Australian tour at an average of 23.75 and thus failed to deliver the goods.

The talisman could only manage six runs against Railways in the Ranji Trophy clash for Delhi. Kohli missed the opening ODI against England due to a sore knee but was dismissed after scoring only five runs by Adil Rashid at Cuttack on Sunday.

Ergo, Kohli has been under the pump for his mundane form and he would look to get back amongst the runs before the Champions Trophy.

“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 was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

Gayle noted that they, as cricketers, go through a difficult phase when runs don’t come easy for them.

“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,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chris Gayle has scored the most runs in Champions Trophy history with 791 runs in 17 matches whereas Virat Kohli has amassed 529 runs in 13 matches of the tournament. Gayle backed his former RCB teammate to break his record.

“It is easy for him just to get 200 runs. 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,” Gayle concluded.

India will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.