West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle has expressed his belief that the clash between India and Pakistan holds greater significance than the historic Ashes rivalry. Gayle emphasized the enormous global viewership of the India vs Pakistan match, with billions of people tuning in to watch it. The 43-year-old revealed his excitement to witness the action firsthand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad during the upcoming ODI World Cup.

The schedule for the tournament indicates that India will begin their campaign against Australia in Chennai, followed by a match against Afghanistan in Delhi. On the other hand, Pakistan will face the qualifying teams in Hyderabad before heading to Ahmedabad. This ensures that both teams will be well-prepared before their highly anticipated encounter on the grand stage, and Gayle is eagerly anticipating the spectacle.

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Chris Gayle stated to The Times of India, “India vs Pakistan – that’s bigger than the Ashes. Yes, that’s bigger than Ashes, absolutely. That’s humongous on the world stage. Billions of people watching that. We know what comes. Let’s see what happens on the 15th. I’ll go watch it.”

Additionally, Gayle highlighted the importance of Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav for India’s success in the World Cup. Although Bumrah is currently sidelined due to injury and has missed several significant tournaments in recent months, he is expected to make his comeback during India’s tour of Ireland.

Regarding Suryakumar, Gayle acknowledged that the batter’s place in the playing XI is yet to be confirmed, as he is likely to compete with Shreyas Iyer for a spot. However, Gayle firmly believes that Suryakumar can play a pivotal role in India’s triumph.

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“For sure, Jasprit Bumrah. I am sure he’s going to be back. And young man Surya (Suryakumar Yadav). These two guys (will be key for India),” added Chris Gayle.