EXCLUSIVE | Congratulations to Rahane, India deserve a pat on the again for MCG turnaround: Chris Gayle

The 2020 version of the Indian Premier League introduced a sequence of firsts for a lot of. The event was hosted exterior of India and matches had been performed in entrance of empty stadiums. The world noticed MS Dhoni return to the sphere after over a 12 months, a timeframe throughout which the previous India captain introduced his retirement from worldwide cricket. There was no Suresh Raina, or Harbhajan Singh, and for the primary time within the historical past of the event, Chennai Super Kings didn’t make it to the Playoffs.Keeping up with the sequence of firsts, the IPL 2020 was a little bit of a combined bag for Chris Gayle. He has featured within the event since 2009 and change into one of many greatest sights of the league. However, for the primary time, Gayle didn’t make it to the beginning XI of his IPL crew for as many as seven consecutive matches. He was an everyday beforehand for Kolkata Knight Riders after which clearly, the Royal Challengers Bangalore, the place his performances escalated him to the extent of stardom he enjoys, nevertheless it modified in 2020.Also Read | ‘You knew there were restrictions’: Brad Haddin says ‘India trying not to play at Gabba’Even when Kings XI Punjab went on a downward spiral dropping six matches out of the primary seven, Gayle continued to overlook out. In between, he was hospitalised for meals poisoning, which extended his wait. But when the time lastly arrived, the Universe Boss confirmed precisely why there isn’t any world T20 famous person fairly like him. His arrival marked a change in fortunes of KXIP because the franchise gained its subsequent 5 video games, with Gayle main from the entrance with scores of 53, 51 and 99.“It’s one of those things where, you know, the user experience varies. I haven’t and didn’t study the IPL, and missed the first seven games (the first of the IPL). But most players get upset and agitated about these things. I still play my supporting role and I explained to the team that whenever they need me, I will be available,” Gayle informed Hindustan Times in an unique chat.Also Read | India reluctant to play Brisbane Test in exhausting quarantineIn 2018, when Gayle had moved to KXIP after spending seven years with RCB, the West Indies batsman in an interview provided a little bit of a chilly shoulder to the Red and Yellow. He had revealed how RCB had proven curiosity in retaining him however the cellphone name by no means got here. Still, there wasn’t any animosity there. Immediately upon switching sides, Gayle peeled off 100 in his fourth match and bagged two Player of the Match awards in between.In two seasons previous to this, Gayle had notched up 368 and 490 runs in 2018 and 2019 respectively, so when he was not included within the XI, it was each bit shocking. Sturdier males would have wilted, however the swag with which Gayle rolls, by no means allowed any type of insecurity to creep in.“But I was a bit disappointed that it didn’t start the IPL but eventually it happened and I played the first game, even though I got sick when I was supposed to play again. There were plenty of twists and turns before I actually played my first game,” he stated. “But eventually it happened and I was able to use my experience within IPL, because, you know I’ve been playing the tournament since the beginning. There was nothing to actually write about, but just to show people that you know Universe Boss is still around, because I’m the GOAT. So, it’s just one of those things they can learn from their mistake, not me.”Also Read | ‘Yuvraj has done it before, so why can’t I?’ Chris Gayle eager to emulate Yuvraj Singh’s feat of six sixes in an overAt 41, winner of two World T20 titles, Gayle insists he isn’t near retirement. In early 2019, Gayle introduced that he would bid farewell to ODIs after the World Cup, however took a U-turn through the event in England. Against India at house, after being dismissed for 72, he walked off elevating his bat and to a spherical of applause from the group, hinting that he’d performed his closing 50-over recreation for his nation. And whereas that might nicely have occurred, Gayle is eyeing subsequent 12 months’s T20 World Cup in India. It’s virtually as if WWE icon Sting’s catchphrase, ‘The only thing that’s for positive is that nothing is for positive’ resonates aptly with Gayle.“Absolutely. I’m still looking forward to it now onwards. I’m still in my prime. I still have a lot of cricket to play. Next month I will be in Abu Dhabi to play T10. Then, I am ahead of the PSL, and I’ll see what’s happening after that as well,” Gayle stated when requested whether or not the 2021 T20 World Cup is in his thoughts.Coming off the inaugural Ultimate Kricket Challenge, Gayle is hitting the straps for the T10 league the place he’ll flip up because the icon participant for Team Abu Dhabi and can sq. off towards the likes of Shahid Afridi and Dwayne Bravo. Having stated that Gayle has ensured he stays linked with the cricket that’s going down around the globe, together with the four-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia Down Under.Also Read | No protocols flouted in Australia, says India crew managementWhile he isn’t into it solely, Gayle is conscious of India’s beautiful comeback in Melbourne following the crushing defeat in Adelaide, and congratulated stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane for a exceptional turnaround and holding the sequence alive.“I’m not fully following it to be honest. Based on the last result, they had, getting bowled out in the first Test with 36, there were so many talks that happened and there were different speculations about the team. It was facing a lot of pressure, and then to be able to bounce back with such a fantastic win against Australia the Boxing Day Test much. India really deserve a pat on their back,” Gayle stated.“You know that performance, it takes strength of character to actually bounce back from such a heavy defeat in the first Test. So, Rahane did a fantastic job there. Congratulations to Rahane and Team India. The third Test should be one to watch as well. All the guns are going to be blazing from both teams.”