Christopher Henry Gayle, the big-hitting Jamaican almost always sets the stage on fire with his batting exploits. The game against RR was no different when he made an imposing score of 99 in a team total of 185.
This brings us to the question that what makes this legend tick, even at the age of 41?
Gayle was a match-winner even during his younger days, in the pre T20 era too. He is one of the few batsmen who has registered two triple centuries which showcases his technical prowess as a batsman too, establishing the fact that there was more than just slam-bang attached to him.
When the IPL carnival began, he was picked up by KKR, but they couldn’t bring out the best in him. Come 2011, when he was left unsold in the auction, former India cricketer turned commentator Sidhu had famously commented that this is a stupid auction, which hasn’t picked up Gayle.
In an inspired decision taken by Anil Kumble, who was heading the cricketing operations at RCB, he got in Gayle as a replacement for the then injured Dirk Nannes and rest as they say is history.
Gayle set the tournament on fire year after year and his fortunes coincided with West Indies winning two T20 World Cups.
The world felt he would go easy once he crossed the 10k mark in T20’s, a record hitherto unknown to mankind.
But the man keeps improving year after year proving his naysayers and detractors wrong with his penchant to score big and score consistently. A lot of eyebrows were raised when he wasn’t picked up for KXIP during their initial few games in the league and their performance was there to see.
They had hit a point of no return when Gayle was finally selected to play and with his inclusion, they went on to win 5 in a row and the big man did all he could to make it 6 but RR proved to be the better team on the day.
His basics are still as strong as they were back in the day and his foundation combined with tactical acumen has kept him in wonderful stead over the years. The big man doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon in his tracks. Here’s wishing for more Gayle storm, nothing can’t stop you mate!
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