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Christopher Henry Gayle OD (born 21 September 1979) is a Jamaican cricketer who played international cricket for the West Indies from 1999 to 2021.[3] Gayle is widely regarded as the greatest Twenty20 batsman in the history of Cricket.[4][5] He played a crucial role in the West Indies teams that won the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy, 2012 ICC World Twenty20 and 2016 ICC World Twenty20.

Key Information

He has set numerous records across all three formats of the game. He is the most capped player for the West Indies in international cricket and is the only player to score a triplet of centuries – a triple hundred in Tests, double hundred in ODIs and a hundred in T20Is. Gayle is the only player to score more than 14,000 runs and hit more than 1000 sixes in T20 cricket[6][7] He is also the leading run scorer for West Indies in both ODIs and T20Is and, after Brian Lara, was the second player to score more than 10,000 runs for West Indies in ODI Cricket. Gayle was the first West Indian batsman to score a double-century in ODI cricket and subsequently in the history of World Cup cricket, where he scored an innings of 215 against Zimbabwe. His innings of 215 is currently the highest individual score by a left-handed batsman in ODI cricket. Along with the ODI record, he has the highest individual score in the T20 World Cup as a West Indian with his 117 runs against South Africa. Moreover, in the ICC Champions Trophy, he has the highest score made by a West Indian with his innings of 133 not out against South Africa in the 2006 tournament. In addition to his batting, He has picked up over 200 International Wickets with his Right-arm off-break spin bowling. He was awarded the Most Valuable Player in the 2011 Indian Premier League and held the Orange Cap in 2012. On 23 April 2013, He broke the record for the fastest ever T20 hundred in his landmark knock of 175 runs from 66 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in the IPL, which is also the highest score ever by a batsman in T20 history. He also equaled the record for the fastest 50 in T20 cricket while playing for Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League.[8]

Playing Tests, Gayle scored over 7,000 runs at an average of over 42 and captained the West Indian Test side from 2007 to 2010. He last played in a Test match in September 2014, against Bangladesh. After initially expressing his desire to retire from ODIs after the 2019 Cricket World Cup, he nonetheless played in the ODI series against India after the World Cup playing his final and 301st ODI match wearing the special jersey number 301 in August 2019, against India. In December 2020, Gayle was included in the ICC T20I Team of the Decade.[9]

In September 2021, he was included in the West Indies squad for 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.[10]

Early career

[edit]

Gayle started his cricket career with Lucas Cricket Club in Kingston, Jamaica.[11] Gayle claimed: "If it was not for Lucas, I don't know where I would be today. Maybe on the streets."[11] Lucas Cricket Club's nursery has been named in honour of Gayle.[11]

He was made captain of the West Indies side in the ICC T20 World Cup 2009 after getting criticized for playing in the IPL 2008 and missing an international series a few months before. Gayle scored a quickfire 88 in the opening game of the tournament and helped the Windies beat the mighty Australians. They lost in the semi-final to Sri Lanka.

International career

[edit]

Debut years

[edit]

Gayle first played at the international level as a youth where he topscored for the Windies at the 1998 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.[12] He eventually made his first-class debut in 1998, at age 19 for Jamaica. He played his first One Day International eleven months later in 1999, and his first Test match six months after that. Gayle went on to establish himself as a destructive batsman who's most effective whilst playing square of the wicket. In July 2001, Gayle recorded his maiden Test century by scoring 175 against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo. In partnership with Daren Ganga they added 214 to equal the record for opening stands against the host country.[13]

Rise in ranks

[edit]
An innings-by-innings breakdown of Gayle's Test match batting career up until 2008, showing runs scored (red bars) and the average of the last ten innings (blue line).

Gayle had a slow start to his international career, but invigorated it in 2002, ending the year with three centuries against India in November and becoming the third West Indian to score over 1,000 runs in a calendar year, along with Vivian Richards and Brian Lara.[14] He is one of only six players in One Day International history to have three or more scores of 150. In 2005, Gayle was dropped for the first Test against South Africa along with six other players following a dispute over sponsorship issues (see below). He returned for the second Test but had a poor series until the fourth Test, where he made a match-saving 317. It was the first-ever triple century against South Africa and up until Mahela Jayawardene made 374, it was the highest individual Test score against them. In another match of the series, Gayle had to leave the field after complaining of dizziness. During a subsequent series against Australia, Gayle again complained of dizziness and shortness of breath during his innings. He left the field for a time, and was after the match sent to hospital where he was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect causing a cardiac dysrhythmia. He underwent heart surgery following the series to correct the defect.[15][16] Gayle was only the fourth West Indian to carry his bat in a Test innings.[17]

Gayle at the Prime Ministers XI cricket match in Canberra in 2010

In August 2005, Gayle joined Worcestershire for the rest of the English season, playing eight matches. He made two half-centuries in three first-class matches and two half-centuries in five one-day matches, and won one Man of the Match award in the one-day National League. However, Worcestershire were relegated after Gayle made 1 in the final match against Lancashire.

Gayle was named Player of the 2006 Champions Trophy, where the West Indies nearly defended the title they won in 2004, being defeated in the final by Australia. Gayle scored three centuries and totalled 474 runs, 150 more than any other batsman, and also took eight wickets in as many matches. Gayle, in keeping with the rest of the West Indies team, had a poor World Cup in 2007. He recorded a series of low scores; the one exception being a blistering 79 off 58 balls against England in the West Indies' final match.

Gayle made the first century in international Twenty20 cricket, scoring 117 against South Africa in the first match of the 2007 World Twenty20.[18] The innings made him the first batsman to score a century in each of international cricket's three formats.[19] This stood alone as the record score in a T20I until 19 February 2012, when South Africa's Richard Levi scored 117n.o. against New Zealand, and was eventually exceeded by Brendon McCullum of New Zealand later that year.[20]

In the semi-final match of the 2009 World Twenty20 against Sri Lanka, he became the first international player to carry his bat through the entire innings in this format of the game as well. In April 2008, Gayle was bought by the franchise Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League player auction, but missed the opening games due to a Sri Lankan tour to the Caribbean. When he finally joined the team, he missed out on the action due to a groin injury he picked up during that tour. Afterwards, he left to join the West Indies team for a home series against Australia, therefore not playing in the inaugural version of the IPL.

He played in the second IPL competition in early 2009, arriving for an away Test series against England very late, earning criticism about his commitment.[21] His Test series went poorly, and the West Indies went on to lose both the Test and ODI series. Gayle, however, went to on score a match winning 88 in the first official match of the 2009 Twenty20, in a surprise victory over Australia.[22]

On 17 December 2009 in the Australia v West Indies 3rd Test Chris Gayle scored the then fifth-fastest century in Test match history, taking just 70 balls to reach 100, including nine fours and six sixes. He was dismissed two balls later for 102 runs. On 16 November 2010, he became the fourth cricketer to score two triple centuries in Test cricket after Donald Bradman, Brian Lara and Virender Sehwag.[23]

On his return to Test cricket in July 2012, he scored 150 on the third day of the first Test against New Zealand.[24]

Gayle scored 75 runs from 41 balls, fuelling West Indies' total of 205, against Australia in the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 semi-final, which was the highest total of the tournament.[25][26]

In November 2012, during the First Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka, Gayle became the first player in the history of Test cricket to hit a six off the first ball of a match.[27] In 2013, during the Third Test against Zimbabwe, Gayle surpassed Brian Lara's record of the most sixes in Test cricket by a West Indian cricketer.[28]

Late career

[edit]

In February 2015, Gayle became the fourth cricketer (and the first ever non-Indian) to score a double century in ODIs, and the first ever to do so in World Cup history, when he made 215 during a pool game against Zimbabwe in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in Canberra.[29][30] His partnership with Marlon Samuels was the most productive wicket in Cricket World Cup history, producing 372 runs before Gayle was caught for an out on the final ball of the innings.[31] Coincidentally, he was almost adjudged out on the first ball he faced as an LBW appeal was raised by Zimbabwe bowler, Tinashe Panyangara, however, the umpire turned down the appeal. Despite a review which showed that the ball would have clipped the top of the bails, the original decision was upheld.[31] Gayle thus became the only player in world cricket to hit a triple hundred in Tests, a double hundred in ODIs and a hundred in Twenty20 Internationals.

Gayle fielding against Australia during the 2019 Cricket World Cup

Chris Gayle ended his List-A career for Jamaica with a match-winning century against Barbados in a Super50 Cup 2018. On 18 February 2019, Gayle announced that he would retire from ODIs after the 2019 Cricket World Cup.[32][33] He reversed this decision in June 2019.[34]

In April 2019, he was named in the West Indies' squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, which marked his fifth consecutive World Cup appearance (2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019).[35][36] On 31 May 2019, in the West Indies' opening match of the World Cup, Gayle scored his 40th six in World Cup matches, the most by any batsman in World Cup history, surpassing AB de Villiers's record of 37.[37] In the West Indies' match against Australia, Gayle scored his 1,000th run in the Cricket World Cup.[38] On 1 July 2019, in the match against Sri Lanka, Gayle became the most capped player for the West Indies in international cricket, playing in his 455th match.[39]

Three days later, in the West Indies' final match of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, against Afghanistan, Gayle became the most-capped player for the West Indies in the Cricket World Cup, playing in his 35th match.[40] In the same match he also equalled Brian Lara's record of playing in 299 ODIs for the West Indies.[41] In the next game against India, he played his 300th ODI match, the only West Indian player to achieve that feat. He also broke the record for the most runs for the West Indies in ODIs, surpassing Brian Lara. In the next match, he scored a breath-taking 72 of just 41 balls, in a knock having 5 maximums, as he led his team to a respectable total of 240 in 35 overs. Chasing a revised target of 255 in 35 overs via DLS, India looked in a spot of bother, but Indian skipper Virat Kohli's unbeaten 114 cost them the match as India won the series 2–0.

In November 2020, Gayle was nominated for the ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Decade award.[42][43] In February 2021, Gayle was recalled to West Indies' T20I squad after two-year absence and named in the T20I squad against Sri Lanka.[44] On 13 July 2021, against Australia in the third T20I, Gayle scored his first T20I half-century in the format since 2016, scoring 67 off 38 deliveries.[45]

In September 2021, Gayle was named in the West Indies' squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.[46]

Retirement

[edit]

On 6 November 2021, Gayle played his last T20I match against Australia in the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium. However he has not announced his retirement from international cricket yet. He wanted to retire in front of his home crowd in Jamaica.[47]

Twenty20 cricket

[edit]
Chris Gayle's record in Twenty20 matches[48]
  Period Matches Runs HS 100s 50s Avg.
T20I[49] 2006– 79 1899 117 2 14 27.93
IPL[50] 2009– 140 4965 175* 6 31 39.72
CLT20[51] 2009–14 6 257 92 0 2 42.83
BBL[52] 2011–16 22 649 100* 1 4 30.90
BPL[53] 2012– 42 1482 146* 5 5 41.16
CPL[54] 2013– 85 2519 116 4 13 39.23
PSL[55] 2016– 16 370 68 0 2 23.12

On 1 July 2009, Gayle signed with the Western Australia Warriors for the Australian Domestic Twenty20 tournament known as the Big Bash for the 2009–10 season. In 2011, after being left out of the initial part of the West Indies T20 and one-day home series against Pakistan, Gayle opted to join the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League.[56] In his debut game against his previous team Kolkata Knight Riders in their home ground, he scored 102 off 55 balls, hitting 10 fours and 7 sixes.[57] On 6 May 2011, he scored another century, 107 off 49 balls in Bangalore against the Kings XI Punjab, which included 10 fours and 9 sixes.[58] In the next match against Kochi Tuskers Kerala, he scored 37 runs in one over, which included 3 sixes, 3 fours and a no ball that was hit for a six.[59] Although many people cite him as having hit the over for 37, one run was awarded as an extra due to the no ball. He can therefore be said to have hit 36 off an over that went for 37. Gayle won the Orange Cap Award for scoring the most runs in the tournament amassing 608 runs in 12 matches.[60] He was instrumental in many victories for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and received five Man of the Match awards and also the Player of the Tournament award for his performances.[61] In the 2011 Champions League Twenty20, Chris Gayle was the second highest run-scorer in the competition, behind David Warner, with 257 runs from 6 matches at an average of 42.83 and a top score of 92, and was one of the star players.[62]

Following his prolific performances, Gayle was signed by Zimbabwean franchise Matabeleland Tuskers, for the 2011-12 Stanbic Bank 20 Series.[63] As Gayle later recalled it was valuable practice ahead of the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash, where he had signed for the Sydney Thunder.[64][65][66] Gayle hoped his first appearance in the tournament was a success, and he gave the spectators something to cheer about. Gayle was the second West Indian to be signed in the event, after the legendary Brian Lara had signed for Southern Rocks the previous season.

Gayle enjoyed great success in that tournament. He was the leading run-scorer in that series with 293 runs, a top score of 109, and an average over 50, the best of the tournament.[67] The only century Gayle scored in the event ended in defeat as Mid West Rhinos's Brendan Taylor's outstanding 75* outlasted his team.[68] The Tuskers could not win the tournament as they were overpowered by Mashonaland Eagles's Ryan ten Doeschate's brilliant 121* off 58 and despite Gayle scoring a half-century, it was not enough to see his home through.[69]

Gayle also joined the Barisal Burners in the Bangladesh Premier League, and had scored two centuries at more than a run-a-ball.[70]

In the 2012 IPL season, Gayle hit the most sixes (59)[71] and was nominated for the orange cap for making 733 in 14 matches.[72]

Gayle was selected for team Uva Next for the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League in 2012, but did not play for the team due to injury.[73][74]

Gayle started off his 2013 IPL season scoring 92 not out from 58 balls, hitting 11 fours and four sixes against the Mumbai Indians. His innings helped his side to victory, and he was awarded the man of the match.[75] On 23 April 2013, during an IPL match against Pune Warriors India, Gayle broke multiple scoring records. With an individual score of 175 not out off 66 balls and a century reached in 30 balls, Gayle set records for the fastest century reached in any format of cricket, the highest individual score in a T20 match, and the most sixes scored in a single innings in the IPL.[76][77] He also took two wickets in the match.

At the launch of the Caribbean Premier League, Gayle was announced as the first franchise player for the league.[78]

During the 2015 T20 Blast season in England, Gayle represented Somerset and despite appearing in just 3 games for the county he contributed 328 runs including a score of 151 not out in a losing cause against Kent. The knock that came from 62 balls included 15 sixes and remains the highest T20 score at the County Ground Taunton.[79][80]

On 18 January 2016, in a match with the Adelaide Strikers, Gayle set a new Big Bash League record for the fastest fifty and equaled the world record set by Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh against England in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20. He reached 51 in just 12 deliveries which included seven sixes and smashed the previous record of 18 deliveries set by Strikers batsman Tim Ludeman. He was dismissed shortly after for 56 off 17 balls by Travis Head.[81]

Gayle was signed by Lahore Qalandars in 2016 for 200,000 dollars to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Gayle had his worst T20 league, citing back problems. He only scored 103 runs from five matches and was also out twice for a golden duck, the most in his T20 career, by Junaid Khan.[82] Gayle returned for a second season of PSL in 2017, this time picked by Karachi Kings. He played 9 matches for the side, and scored merely 160 runs.[83] This would be prove to be last outing for Gayle in PSL, as he wasn't picked by any side in the 2018 and 2019 drafts of the league.[84] In 2021, he was picked by Quetta Gladiators.

On 18 April 2017, Gayle reached the 10,000 runs milestone in T20 cricket after scoring 77 runs off 38 balls in a match against Gujarat Lions where Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 21 runs. He was also awarded the man of the match which was his first in IPL 2017.[85][86]

On 16 September 2017, Gayle became the first ever player to hit 100 T20I sixes.

On 28 January 2018, Gayle was bought by Kings XI Punjab (Now Punjab Kings) in the 2018 IPL Auction for his base price of ₹20 million.[87] On 19 April, Gayle scored 104* off 63 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad, and his team won the match by 15 runs. It was his 6th IPL century.[88] Gayle was retained by the franchise for IPL 2021.[89] He however left the tournament in the second leg, citing 'bio-bubble fatigue'.[90]

In May 2018, Gayle was named as one of the ten marquee players for the first edition of the Global T20 Canada cricket tournament.[91][92] On 3 June 2018, he was selected to play for the Vancouver Knights in the players' draft for the inaugural edition of the tournament.[93] In September 2018, he was named as the Icon Player for Balkh's squad in the first edition of the Afghanistan Premier League tournament.[94] The following month, he was named in Jozi Stars' squad for the first edition of the Mzansi Super League T20 tournament.[95][96] In June 2019, he was selected to play for the Vancouver Knights franchise team in the 2019 Global T20 Canada tournament.[97] In September 2019, he was named in the squad for the Jozi Stars team for the 2019 Mzansi Super League tournament.[98] In October 2020, he was drafted by the Kandy Tuskers for the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League.[99] In November 2021, he was selected to play for the Colombo Stars following the players' draft for the 2021 Lanka Premier League.[100]

On 17 May 2022, Gayle was inducted into the RCB Hall of Fame (along with AB de Villiers) for his contributions to the team between 2011 and 2017.

In 2022, Chris Gayle made his Legends League Cricket debut for Gujarat Giants.[101]

Twenty20 centuries

[edit]

Playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Gayle scored a 30-ball century, that became the highest individual T20 score (175 not out).[76][102] It eclipsed the previous mark set by Brendon McCullum of Kolkata Knight Riders.

Gayle holds the record for most centuries in T20 cricket (21), 15 more than his nearest rival Brendon McCullum. 15 out of his 21 T20 centuries have been not out.

Technique and attitude

[edit]

The ball spat off the middle of his bat to all corners, turning into parabolas that the crowd was hollering for. Gayle faced more than half the balls bowled by the Warriors and produced a compressed 20-over highlights package.[103]

Sharda Ugra of ESPNcricinfo on Gayle's 175* against PWI in IPL 2013

Gayle is known for his characteristic hitting, imposing physique, and timing. He attributes the latter to being very thin when young, and having a heavy bat.[104] He is known for appearing very calm as the bowler approaches. "Tall and imposing at the crease, he loves to carve through the covers off either foot, and has the ability to decimate the figures of even the thriftiest of opening bowlers" recorded Wisden and ESPNcricinfo.[105] He holds numerous records that reflect his batting style, including record Twenty20 strike-rates and high scores.

"It is instinct... We premeditate at times, but most of those things are instinct. When a fast bowler runs in to me, my breathing is controlled. So you keep a still head, slow down your breathing. Sometimes I actually hold my breath, so I can be as still and well-balanced as possible. If you get too excited, you overreact more, and with the adrenalin, you lose focus quickly."[104]

Music

[edit]

Chris Gayle launched a music career in November 2020 with a dancehall music video called "We Come Out To Party".[106][107] Earlier in 2020, he had released a video about his partying lifestyle.[108] In April 2021, Gayle released a music video titled "Jamaica to India" in collaboration with the Indian rapper Emiway Bantai.[109] In September 2021, Gayle announced a song named 'Punjabi Daddy'.[110]

Personal life

[edit]

Gayle's partner is Allysa Berridge. On 20 April 2016, Gayle announced the birth of his daughter on social media platform Instagram.[111][112] On 9 September 2016, Gayle launched his autobiography Six Machine – I don't like cricket, I love it'.[113]

Controversies

[edit]

In 2005, Gayle was involved in the dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and a number of players over sponsorship issues. These players had personal sponsorship deals with Cable and Wireless, who used to sponsor West Indian cricket. However, since the West Indies had recently become sponsored by Cable and Wireless's rivals Digicel, the West Indies Cricket Board demanded the players dropped their Cable and Wireless deals. When the players refused to back down, the West Indies Cricket Board dropped them for the first Test against South Africa.[114] Gayle later cut his deal with Cable and Wireless and rejoined the side for the second Test.

He was charged with conduct contrary to the spirit of cricket during a Test against New Zealand in March 2006 but was subsequently found not guilty.[115] Later that year, during October's Champions Trophy tournament in India, he was fined 30 percent of his match fee after repeated verbal exchanges with the Australian batsman Michael Clarke.[116] He also publicly criticised the West Indies Cricket Board during the 2007 tour of England, which led to an official reprimand and warning.[117]

Gayle also received criticism in early 2009 during West Indies' tour of England, where he commented that he did not want to captain the West Indies any more given the pressures involved, and that he "wouldn't be so sad" if Test cricket was superseded by Twenty20 cricket in the future.[21] From the West Indies, both Viv Richards and Gary Sobers criticised Gayle's comments, as did opposite number Andrew Strauss.[118] Gayle later commented that his statement had been quoted out of context, according to Julian Hunte, President of the West Indies Cricket Board.[119] In an interview with Mike Atherton at the conclusion of a West Indies defeat in their tour of England, Gayle stated that he was not going to resign the captaincy.[120]

In April 2011 Chris Gayle criticised the West Indies Cricket Board and coach Ottis Gibson and did not play for the team for more than a year. On 6 April 2012, Gayle and the WICB reached an understanding that paved the way for the former West Indies captain to return to the national team.[121] On 25 June 2012, Gayle was chosen to be a part of the 2nd T20 and five-match one-day squad series starting on 30 June 2012, in the West Indies and Florida. They won the T20 series 2–0, in which Gayle was awarded man of the series, and the ODI series 4–1, in which Gayle made an aggressive century and half-century.

On 4 January 2016, while being interviewed by Network Ten commentator Mel McLaughlin during the 2015–16 Big Bash League season, Gayle said, "I just wanted to have an interview with you as well; that's why I batted so well," followed by, "Your eyes are beautiful; hopefully we can win this game and then we can have a drink after as well. Don't blush, baby". The comments were criticised by the Australian media,[122][123][124][125] with former Australian test captain Ian Chappell encouraging Cricket Australia to ban him from playing in Australia again.[126] Fellow female sports journalist Neroli Meadows stated that Gayle had been acting in such a way for years, and that he did it to "humiliate" women.[127] Gayle said the comments were intended to be a joke.[128][129] Melbourne Renegades sanctioned Gayle with a A$10,000 fine for inappropriate conduct.[130] On 30 October 2017, Chris Gayle won a defamation case against Fairfax Media after a jury found a series of articles published in 2016 which alleged he exposed himself to a masseuse were untrue and was awarded with $300k in damages for defamation.[131]

The Chris Gayle Academy

[edit]

In 2015, Gayle set up 'The Chris Gayle Academy' with the intent on helping disadvantaged children in both Jamaica and the United Kingdom better themselves and their communities through their involvement in sport.[132] Since then the academy has expanded and now facilitates the advancement of young cricketers careers by providing access to quality coaches and playing opportunities abroad.

International centuries

[edit]
Main article: List of international cricket centuries by Chris Gayle
West Indies opener Chris Gayle walks back after being out
Gayle walks back after being dismissed (2019)

Gayle has scored 42 international centuries, which includes 15 Tests, 25 ODIs and 2 T20I centuries as of 13 July 2021. He was the first cricketer to score centuries in all formats of the game.

Records

[edit]

International

[edit]
  1. Highest run scorer for the West Indies in ODIs.[133]
  2. Second West Indies player (after Brian Lara), and 14th overall, to pass 10,000 runs in ODIs.[134]
  3. First (and so far only) batsman to score a triple century in Test cricket, double century in ODI cricket and a century in T20 internationals.[135]
  4. In World Cup 2015, he hit the fastest ever ODI double century, against Zimbabwe, off 138 balls.[136]
  5. Third batsman to score a century against eleven different countries in ODIs.[137]
  6. Fastest ODI fifty by West Indies batsmen. (50 runs in 19 balls).[138]
  7. Most runs in a single ICC Champions Trophy series (474 runs).[139]
  8. Only player to hit the first ball of a Test match for six.[140]
  9. Along with Marlon Samuels, he holds the record for the highest ever ODI stand for any wicket (372 runs for 2nd wicket).[141][142]
  10. Along with Devon Smith, he set the record for the highest opening stand in ICC World T20 history (145).[143]

Domestic T20

[edit]
  1. Leading run scorer in all forms of T20s.[144]
  2. First batsman to score 10,000 T20 runs.[145][146]
  3. Fastest batsman to score 4000 runs in IPL.[147]
  4. First and only batsman to hit 300 sixes in the IPL.[148]
  5. Highest individual score in T20 with 175* (off 66 balls).[149][150]
  6. Highest score by a player in T20 in a losing cause (151*).[151]
  7. Joint record for fastest T20 half-century, in 12 balls.[152]
  8. Most number of sixes in a T20 innings (18) during the 2017–18 Bangladesh Premier League.[153]

T10

[edit]

Joint Record, with Mohammad Shahzad and Waseem Muhammad for Fastest T10 Fifty in 12 Balls in the Abu Dhabi T10 in 2021.[154]

Honours

[edit]

West Indies

Jamaica Tallawahs

Rangpur Riders

Vancouver Knights

Balkh Legends

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Chris Gayle

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Chris Gayle (born 21 September 1979) is a Jamaican former international cricketer who represented the in Test, (ODI), and (T20I) matches from 1999 to 2021. A left-handed opening batsman and part-time right-arm off-break bowler standing at 6 feet 2 inches, Gayle debuted in Tests against India in 1999 and quickly established himself as a destructive force in limited-overs , particularly in T20 formats where his power-hitting redefined aggressive batting. Among his notable achievements, Gayle scored the highest individual innings in T20I history with 175 not out against in 2015, holds the record for most sixes in by a player, and was a key contributor to ' ICC T20 World Cup victories in 2012 and 2016, amassing over 14,500 runs and 1,000 sixes across T20 cricket. In Tests, he recorded a triple century of 333 against in 2010, one of only three such scores by a , while in ODIs he twice scored double centuries, including 215 against in 2015. His career also featured stints in domestic leagues like the with Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he won the Orange Cap for most runs in 2011, though early disciplinary issues, such as a ban during his 2000 tour of , highlighted occasional lapses in professionalism amid his laid-back persona.

Early Life and Domestic Career

Childhood and Youth Development

Christopher Henry Gayle was born on September 21, 1979, in , in the Rollington Town neighborhood, an area characterized by modest socioeconomic conditions. Growing up in such an environment, Gayle was introduced to amid limited resources, reflecting the grassroots nature of the sport in inner-city Jamaican communities where informal play often precedes structured involvement. Gayle's early cricketing exposure came through local club play, beginning with Lucas Cricket Club in Kingston, a venue that has nurtured multiple talents and served as a foundational step for his development. He honed his skills there, benefiting from the club's environment that emphasized raw ability over formal coaching infrastructure, which aligned with his natural athleticism and emerging power-hitting style evident even in youth matches. By his mid-teens, Gayle attended Excelsior High School, where he encountered coaching from figures like Radcliffe Haynes, further refining his technique amid schoolboy competitions. At around age 18, Gayle represented in under-19 trials and matches, including scoring 58 runs in a fixture, demonstrating his potential as an aggressive opening batsman prior to his first-class entry. This period underscored his self-reliant progression from street-level play to competitive youth selection, driven by innate physical prowess rather than elite academies, setting the stage for his domestic breakthrough without reliance on extensive early institutional support.

Domestic Debut and Initial Achievements

Chris Gayle made his first-class debut for in the 1998–99 season of the Shell Shield tournament at the age of 19. His entry into senior domestic highlighted his raw physical power and aggressive intent as an opening batsman, though early outings reflected the inconsistencies typical of a young player transitioning from youth levels. Prior to his first-class bow, Gayle competed in regional youth competitions, including the Under-19 setups sponsored by TCL, where his imposing stature and preference for forceful strokeplay over refined technique began to stand out. This approach carried into his domestic starts, with half-centuries in initial first-class and List A appearances signaling his for dominating attacks through sheer hitting ability rather than defensive accumulation. By the early 2000s, Gayle's domestic form in tournaments like the Bowl and subsequent regional first-class series solidified his role as Jamaica's premier top-order aggressor, with accumulating runs and occasional big scores paving the way for international selection despite patchy consistency. His style emphasized exploiting loose deliveries with power, establishing a reputation for explosive potential that prioritized boundary-hitting from the outset.

International Career

Test and ODI Debuts (2000-2005)

Chris Gayle made his (ODI) debut on September 11, 1999, against in , where he scored 1 run off 4 balls as lost by 8 wickets. His debut followed on March 16, 2000, against in St. John's, , yielding scores of 33 and 0 in a drawn match, highlighting initial struggles with consistency amid ' post-dominant-era transition marked by reliance on aging players and emerging talent. These inauspicious starts reflected technical vulnerabilities, particularly against seam movement and pace, as Gayle averaged under 20 in his first five by mid-2001, often falling to edges or mistimed shots in conditions favoring bowlers. Gayle's adaptation showed gradual progress in the longer format, culminating in his maiden Test century of 175 runs off 255 balls against in from July 19-22, 2001, anchoring to an innings victory by 176 runs in a rare dominant performance during a series win. In ODIs, he adopted an aggressive opening role, evidenced by his 152 runs off 150 balls (including 17 fours and 3 sixes) against on August 15, 2001, in , powering to 311/4 and a 106-run victory, signaling improved power-hitting despite earlier modest aggregates averaging around 25 in his initial 20 ODIs. These contributions came amid ' broader challenges, including inconsistent team results and a shift from the 1970s-1990s to mediocrity, with only sporadic series successes against weaker opponents. By 2005, Gayle's early international tenure intersected with administrative friction, as he and faced exclusion from the squad for the tour due to conflicts between personal endorsement deals and West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) sponsorship policies, which prohibited third-party bat logos. The duo canceled their contracts on March 31, 2005, to regain eligibility, but the episode underscored causal tensions over player autonomy versus board control, contributing to Gayle's temporary drop for the first and reflecting systemic governance issues that hampered team stability during this transitional period.

Rise to Prominence and Key Milestones (2006-2012)

During the period from 2006 to 2012, Chris Gayle solidified his reputation as a destructive opener in through several high-impact performances that showcased his capacity for prolonged dominance. In the first Test against at from November 15 to 19, 2010, Gayle scored an unbeaten 333 off 393 balls, including 33 fours and 7 sixes, which remains the highest individual score by a against and marked his second triple century in Tests. This propelled to a total of 590 for 4 declared, setting up a strong position in the match. Gayle's aggressive batting style, characterized by raw power and a willingness to attack from the outset, contributed to his ODI strike rate of approximately 87, enabling rapid scoring in limited-overs formats despite occasional critiques of inconsistency in converting starts. In ODIs during this era, he amassed multiple centuries, including key contributions that built momentum for ahead of major tournaments like the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, where his explosive starts pressured opponents early. A pivotal moment came in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 opener against on September 11, 2007, when Gayle became the first player to score a T20I century, hammering 117 off 57 balls with 7 fours and 10 sixes, powering to 205 for 6 despite their eventual loss. This performance highlighted his evolution toward prioritizing high-impact results over conventional technique, influencing ' approach in subsequent white-ball campaigns. In November 2012, during the first against at Mirpur, Gayle etched his name in history by hitting the first ball of the match—a delivery from debutant Gazi—for six, becoming the first batsman to achieve this feat in . These milestones underscored Gayle's ability to deliver in high-pressure scenarios, with his power-hitting yielding outsized returns that elevated ' batting firepower, even as his unorthodox method drew debate over reliability in drawn-out innings.

Later Years, World Cup Performances, and Retirement (2013-2021)

In April 2014, Gayle retired from after 103 matches, in which he accumulated 7,214 runs at an average of 42.18, including 15 centuries. This decision reflected his shift toward limited-overs formats amid ' challenges in maintaining a competitive Test side, as longer games demanded sustained fitness that Gayle, then aged 34, increasingly prioritized for white-ball cricket. Gayle's ODI career continued selectively, highlighted by strong World Cup showings. In the 2015 tournament, he scored an unbeaten 215 against —then the highest individual score in World Cup history—propelling to a total of 372/2, though the team exited in the quarter-finals. By the 2019 World Cup, however, his output declined to 242 runs across eight innings at an average under 40, with no half-centuries, underscoring age-related inconsistencies despite occasional power-hitting. On February 17, 2019, Gayle announced his ODI retirement post-tournament, citing the event as his farewell in the format after 284 matches and 9,727 runs. He later reversed this, committing to further ODIs and even expressing openness to Tests, but played only sporadically thereafter, opting out of series like the November 2019 tour of due to fatigue. In T20Is, Gayle targeted the 2021 World Cup as a potential swan song, maintaining relevance through explosive starts despite a broader international decline marked by fewer matches and variable strike rates post-2015. His final appearance came on November 6, 2021, against Australia in the UAE, where he scored 15 before being bowled by Pat Cummins, effectively ending his 79-match T20I career without an official retirement declaration. This phase exemplified pragmatic management, leveraging experience in chases while West Indies grappled with team transitions and administrative hurdles.

T20 and Franchise League Cricket

Breakthrough in T20 Formats

Chris Gayle made his (T20I) debut for on 16 February 2006 against at , , where he opened the batting and scored 10 runs off 12 balls. This match marked an early foray into the nascent T20 format, which emphasized aggressive strokeplay and suited Gayle's natural power-hitting ability, honed through domestic cricket for since his first-class debut in 1998. Prior critiques of his inconsistency in longer formats, such as Tests and ODIs, contrasted with T20's demand for high strike rates, allowing Gayle to leverage his physical strengths without the patience required in extended innings. Gayle's adaptation accelerated during the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007, where he scored the first-ever T20I century on 11 September against in , amassing 117 runs off 57 balls, including 7 fours and 10 sixes. This explosive knock propelled to 205/6, showcasing a exceeding 205 and demonstrating T20's causal alignment with his innate ability to clear boundaries—evident in his eventual career tally of 105 sixes in T20Is at an overall format above 140. Though chased the target, Gayle's innings highlighted the format's shift toward rewarding raw power over technical finesse, influencing ' semi-final progression in the tournament. This breakthrough underscored Gayle's pioneering influence in T20's global rise, as his high-volume six-hitting and rapid scoring validated an aggressive template that diverged from traditional cricket's conservatism, enabling him to thrive where prior formats exposed vulnerabilities in concentration.

IPL and Global League Successes

Chris Gayle debuted in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008 with Kolkata Knight Riders, playing a limited role in their inaugural campaign. He transitioned to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ahead of the 2009 season, remaining with the franchise through 2017 and establishing himself as a marquee T20 batsman. During this period, Gayle delivered explosive performances, most notably an unbeaten 175 off 66 balls against Pune Warriors India on 23 April 2013, comprising 13 fours and 17 sixes, which set the IPL record for the highest individual score at the time. Across 141 IPL innings spanning three teams, Gayle accumulated 4,965 runs at an average of 39.72, including six centuries and 31 half-centuries, with 405 fours and 357 sixes underscoring his power-hitting prowess. In 2018, he joined Kings XI Punjab (rebranded Punjab Kings in 2021) for a base price of ₹2 , continuing there until 2021. However, on 8 September 2025, Gayle disclosed feeling disrespected by the franchise during his tenure, citing mistreatment as a senior player that induced depression-like symptoms and prompted his mid-season exit in IPL 2021 after packing his bags and leaving the team hotel. Gayle's franchise success extended to other global T20 leagues, where his aggressive strokeplay yielded consistent results. In the (CPL), he featured in 85 matches across two teams, leveraging home conditions for impactful contributions. In the (PSL), across 16 matches for three teams, he scored 370 runs with a highest of 68 and two half-centuries. His (BBL) stints, particularly with , averaged around 29.5 runs per innings, highlighted by boundary-heavy knocks that epitomized his role in high-stakes, player-centric T20 ecosystems. These achievements across IPL and international leagues generated substantial earnings, with Gayle's total IPL salary exceeding ₹58 crore (approximately $7 million) over 14 seasons, alongside endorsements that elevated his to an estimated $25 million by 2024, demonstrating the financial viability of elite T20 performance in a merit-driven market.

T20-Specific Records and Centuries

Chris Gayle holds the record for the most runs by a player in Internationals (T20Is), with 1,899 runs scored across 79 matches at an average of 27.92 and a exceeding 137. He also leads in T20I sixes for , amassing 105 maximums, which underscores his power-hitting prowess in the format. Across all T20 , Gayle was the first batsman to reach 10,000 runs, achieving the milestone in April 2017 during a domestic T20 match. Gayle has scored 22 centuries in T20 cricket, more than any other player, with the next highest tally standing at seven. His highest individual score in the format is 175 not out, recorded off 66 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against in the (IPL), which remains the highest in IPL history and featured the fastest IPL century off 30 balls. These innings contributed to his overall T20 aggregate of 14,562 runs in 463 matches, including 1,056 sixes, as of mid-2025. As of July 2025, Gayle retains the all-time lead in T20 runs, though players such as and have approached or surpassed 14,000 runs through sustained league performances, raising questions about the longevity of his record amid the format's expansion. His T20 centuries span international, IPL, and other franchise leagues, with notable examples including the first T20I hundred (117 off 57 balls against in 2007) and multiple IPL tons.

Playing Style and Overall Statistics

Batting Technique and Strengths

Chris Gayle employs an orthodox left-handed batting stance characterized by a wide base and minimal lateral movement in the crease, allowing him to maintain balance while generating power through a high back-lift and straight bat swing. This setup facilitates hitting through the line of the ball rather than excessive footwork, prioritizing hand-eye coordination and arm strength for boundary-scoring shots. His primary strength lies in biomechanical efficiency for power generation, leveraging core and rotational force to execute lofted drives and pulls with exceptional distance and elevation. This is evidenced by 74.8% of his T20 runs deriving from boundaries, including a high proportion of sixes struck off good-length deliveries, far exceeding typical T20 openers. Such outcomes stem from a strategy favoring maximal run-rate over defensive survival, reflected in his T20I of approximately 139, which underscores high-variance aggression suited to limited-overs formats rather than endurance-based critiques often misapplied from contexts. Early in his career, Gayle exhibited vulnerability to due to limited footwork adjustments, leading to higher dismissal rates against slower deliveries despite overall scoring proficiency. Experience refined this through adaptive shot selection, enhancing his ability to counter turn while preserving the core power-oriented approach that defined his peak outputs. This evolution highlights a causal emphasis on format-specific optimization, where precision yields to probabilistic boundary-hunting for superior in explosive scenarios.

Comprehensive Career Records

In Test cricket, Chris Gayle played 103 matches between 2000 and 2014, scoring 7,214 runs at an average of 42.18, with a highest score of 333 and 15 centuries. His One Day International (ODI) record comprises 301 matches from 1999 to 2019, aggregating 10,480 runs at an average of 37.83, including 25 centuries and a highest of 215. In Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), he featured in 79 games from 2006 to 2021, compiling 1,899 runs at 27.93 with 2 centuries and a top score of 117.
FormatMatchesInningsRunsAverageCenturiesHighest Score
Tests1031827,21442.1815333
ODIs30129410,48037.8325215
T20Is79751,89927.932117
Gayle's first-class career, spanning domestic and Test matches, yielded over 12,000 runs across approximately 180 appearances, with notable performances including triple centuries. In , he amassed 13,189 runs in 373 matches at 38.67, featuring 29 centuries. Across all T20 formats, Gayle scored more than 14,000 runs and hit over 1,000 sixes, establishing him as the format's leading run-scorer for and holding the record for most T20 centuries until surpassed. He achieved the number one ICC T20 batting ranking multiple times, including in 2012, and was nominated for the ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Decade in 2020. Among his ODI records, Gayle holds the fastest fifty by a West Indian, reaching 50 off 19 balls against on March 2, 2019. Gayle leads West Indies in ODI and T20I runs, with additional honors including induction into the Royal Challengers Bangalore Hall of Fame in 2022.

Off-Field Ventures

Music and Entertainment Pursuits

Chris Gayle initiated a music career in the genre in November 2020, releasing the music video "We Come Out To Party" as his debut track, leveraging his celebrity status to enter the space. In February 2021, he followed with the single "Blessings," a reflective piece acknowledging personal gratitude following career highs and global disruptions. Gayle's collaborations extended his reach internationally; in April 2021, he partnered with Indian rapper Emiway Bantai on "Jamaica to India," a song incorporating motifs that topped Indian music charts and garnered over 17 million views on streaming platforms. This release highlighted modest regional success in markets while achieving breakout popularity in , tied to his IPL fame. Through his Triple Century Records label, Gayle continued issuing singles such as "Kingpin" in 2023 and "Rich and Famous" in 2024, demonstrating a commitment to music as a post-peak cricket diversification amid limited widespread chart dominance. His entertainment pursuits also include high-profile events like the annual "40 Shades of Gayle" birthday series, which evolved into global parties featuring celebrity guests and performances blending his athletic persona with festive spectacles.

The Chris Gayle Academy and Coaching

The Chris Gayle Academy, established in partnership with the charity Cricket For Change and funded by , opened its Jamaica location in in 2014 to provide cricket training and life skills development for at-risk youth. The program targets underprivileged young people, using as a tool to foster discipline, education access, and employment opportunities while aiming to produce community role models. British Airways supported the Jamaica initiative around 2015, focusing on re-engaging children with structured sports activities to build foundational skills. By 2023, Gayle expressed intent to revitalize the academy's grass-roots efforts amid challenges in sustaining operations. The academy's coaching emphasizes practical cricket fundamentals and personal development, with alumni like Donovan Miller advancing to professional roles, including directing the program and collaborating with county teams such as Essex CCC. Jamaican government officials, including the sports minister, have recognized its contributions through events like a graduation ceremony and fundraising dinner, highlighting outcomes in without reliance on external ideological frameworks. Participants have progressed into domestic pathways, though specific entry statistics into Jamaican or circuits remain undocumented in public reports. Beyond the academy, Gayle has taken informal coaching and mentorship roles in franchise leagues, such as during the 2020 IPL season with Kings XI Punjab, where head coach tasked him with guiding younger players on batting and leadership. In 2024, Gayle indicated openness to expanded mentorship positions across cricket formats, leveraging his experience to influence emerging talents. In August 2025, publicly urged to involve Gayle, alongside and , in advisory capacities to address administrative shortcomings and mentor the next generation of players amid performance declines. This suggestion positions Gayle as a potential bridge for transfer in , prioritizing direct player involvement over bureaucratic reforms.

Personal Life

Family and Relationships

Chris Gayle was born on September 21, 1979, in Rollington Town, , to Dudley Gayle, a policeman, and Hazel Gayle, who supported the family by selling peanuts and snacks. He grew up in a modest household with his parents and five siblings, facing financial challenges that shaped his early life. Gayle has maintained a long-term partnership with Natasha Berridge, a Jamaican fashion designer known for her Ultra Carnival, with whom he reportedly married on May 31, 2009. The couple has one daughter, Kris-Allyna Gayle (also referred to as Blush in some posts), born on April 20, 2016. Gayle occasionally shares family moments on , portraying himself as a devoted , though he keeps much of his private amid his high-profile career. No public records indicate divorces or additional marriages for Gayle, and his family appears stable based on available accounts from events and . His upbringing in a working-class community has informed philanthropic efforts, including the Chris Gayle Foundation, which aids underprivileged children in through education and support programs, echoing the modest roots he shares with his own family.

Health Challenges and Personal Reflections

Chris Gayle experienced recurrent injuries throughout the 2010s, which periodically disrupted his international and franchise participation. In November 2013, he suffered a severe tear to his left leg during the first ODI against in , requiring him to leave the field on a and sidelining him for up to four weeks, causing him to miss the remainder of the series. Similar strains afflicted him earlier, including a 2009 injury during a tour of that forced him to play through pain while defending a series lead, and a 2008 combination of damage and a fractured that limited his effectiveness. Further incidents included a twinge in March 2016 during the ICC World T20 against , deemed non-serious but precautionary, and a warmup-related pull in September 2017 that ruled him out of an ODI against . Despite these setbacks, Gayle demonstrated physical durability by resuming high-level play, amassing over 14,000 international runs post-2010 and continuing in T20 leagues into his 40s. Additionally, Gayle underwent corrective surgery for a congenital heart condition—a hole in the heart—diagnosed during West Indies' 2005 tour of , which he later described as a pivotal event reshaping his appreciation for life and health. The procedure, performed around 2016, resolved the issue without ongoing complications, enabling his sustained career longevity. In September 2025, Gayle disclosed experiencing near-depression during his 2021 IPL stint with (PBKS), attributing it to perceived disrespect from the franchise, including being sidelined despite strong early form and treated dismissively as a senior player. He recounted breaking down in tears to coach , feeling infantilized by captain KL Rahul's queries on his availability, and ultimately packing his bags mid-season after limited opportunities following an initial half-century, initially masking the exit as "bubble fatigue." This marked the first time in his life he encountered such mental strain, underscoring the psychological pressures of professional slights amid high-stakes T20 demands. Gayle has reflected on these challenges by emphasizing personal resilience and self-reliance, often critiquing West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) mismanagement—such as prolonged selection disputes despite his fitness and form—as external factors exacerbating career hurdles rather than inherent personal shortcomings. In public statements, he asserted no need for apologies to the board, prioritizing his proven track record and adaptability in global leagues over institutional conflicts, which he viewed as self-serving obstacles to regional talent development. This outlook reinforced his independent navigation of injuries and mental pressures, sustaining a 20-year elite career through rather than systemic support.

Controversies

Professional Disputes and Team Conflicts

In 2005, Chris Gayle terminated his endorsement contract with Cable & Wireless amid broader tensions between West Indies players and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) over sponsorship rights and individual deals conflicting with board policies. These frictions escalated into a team boycott of the tour later that year, driven by unresolved contract disputes, though Gayle was not among the primary boycotters led by . By 2009, as captain, Gayle participated in a high-profile players' strike against tours to and , protesting inadequate payments and sponsorship revenue sharing, which led to the withdrawal of ten senior squad members and the WICB fielding a replacement team. Throughout the 2010s, Gayle's relationship with the WICB deteriorated further due to repeated contract standoffs and selection battles. He was stripped of the in following the board's dissatisfaction with team performance amid ongoing strikes and internal wrangling. In 2014, ahead of the , Gayle publicly accused the WICB of victimizing players like and by omitting them from the squad, linking it to prior contract rebellions that empowered players through lucrative T20 leagues. These disputes underscored a causal shift where global T20 opportunities eroded the WICB's hierarchical control, allowing high-merit performers like Gayle to prioritize financial and performance-based incentives over traditional board authority, though the board viewed such actions as undermining national commitments. On-field team conflicts included a 2015 IPL altercation with teammate during a Mumbai Indians vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore match, where verbal exchanges prompted umpire warnings for excessive appealing and sledging, culminating in Pollard symbolically taping his mouth in protest. In his IPL tenure with Kings XI Punjab (later ) from 2018 to 2021, Gayle later described experiencing disrespectful treatment despite his contributions, including being acquired at base price after going unsold twice in the 2018 auction and feeling sidelined as a senior player, which led him to prematurely exit the 2021 season amid what he termed depressive conditions. Such incidents highlighted persistent systemic challenges in , where board-player power imbalances fostered recurring frictions, often resolved only through external mediation or player leverage from franchise leagues.

Public Statements and Media Incidents

In January 2016, during a live on-field interview in the match between and , Chris Gayle commented to reporter , "Hopefully we can win this game to get the chance to see you again," adding, "Don't blush, baby." McLaughlin later described the exchange as making her feel "embarrassed, angry and upset," prompting widespread media criticism labeling the remarks as sexist and inappropriate. The fined Gayle AUD 10,000, stating the comments were "completely inappropriate and disrespectful," while Gayle apologized "if [McLaughlin] felt uncomfortable" but defended the interaction as light-hearted banter blown out of proportion, emphasizing it was not intended to offend. Supporters argued the response represented an overreaction to consensual adult exchange in a male-dominated , noting McLaughlin accepted the apology and wished to move on. The incident drew parallels to prior off-field behavior, such as Gayle's vigorous dancing with actress at an IPL after-party in 2010, where he removed his shirt amid tabloid reports of flirtatious interaction, though no formal sanctions followed. In response to ongoing accusations, including from fellow cricketers, Gayle in May 2016 reiterated his stance against perceived hypersensitivity, stating in an that critics often undermine successful black athletes out of envy or bias. That same month, in a Times , Gayle attributed media scrutiny of his career to racial motivations, claiming, "Successful men are struggling because people do things to put them down... is still the case for a man. Trust me. They just want to get a little sniff of the dirt... and they want to sink you." He framed this as a reality faced by figures like himself and , prioritizing his empirical achievements—such as over 14,000 international runs and T20 dominance—over narratives of offense, with limited public backlash to the remarks noted in coverage. Following his release by Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of the 2018 IPL auction, Gayle publicly expressed disappointment, stating RCB officials had assured him of retention but failed to follow through with a call-back, describing it as a letdown after his contributions, including the 2011 season's Orange Cap with 608 runs. He emphasized moving on to Kings XI Punjab without bitterness, viewing it as part of the league's business dynamics rather than personal animosity.

Legacy and Recent Activities

Impact on West Indies Cricket and Global T20

Chris Gayle played a pivotal role in revitalizing ' T20 cricket, particularly through his contributions to the team's triumphs in and 2016. In the edition, he amassed 222 runs across six matches at a of 150, including a century, providing explosive starts that anchored ' aggressive batting strategy en route to the title. His performances in 2016 further solidified this influence, as defended their crown with Gayle's power-hitting setting the tone for high-scoring chases and totals. Overall, Gayle holds the record for most T20I runs for with 1,899 in 79 matches, including two centuries and 124 sixes, empirically demonstrating his causal impact on adopting a "bash-bazooka" that prioritized boundary-hitting over accumulation. Gayle's aggressive style pioneered a template for T20 openers globally, emphasizing fearless that disrupted traditional bowling attacks and elevated entertainment value in the format. This approach is credited with transforming shorter-form by inspiring subsequent generations of power hitters, as evidenced by his 21 T20 centuries—far surpassing any other player's seven—and consistent dominance in high-pressure scenarios. In leagues like the IPL, his market disruption manifested through high-profile bids and performances, such as earning MVP honors in after going unsold initially, which boosted franchise visibility and spectator interest despite later auction fluctuations to base prices around INR 2 . Critics have noted Gayle's inconsistency in his later international career, with some attributing team burdens to prolonged selection despite form dips, yet his records and the empirical success of ' T20 peaks under his influence affirm a net positive legacy. Subsequent decline in T20 rankings stems from systemic issues like board-player conflicts, inadequate investment, and failure to adapt to evolving rules such as larger boundaries, rather than shortcomings of individual stalwarts like Gayle. This causal realism highlights administrative failures over player agency, with Gayle's enduring as a benchmark for T20 aggression that enhanced global league values through proven run-scoring and six-hitting prowess.

Post-International Engagements and Endorsements

Following his 2021 retirement from , Chris Gayle has sustained his involvement in T20 cricket through participation in legends and exhibition tournaments. In July 2025, he captained the Champions squad in the of Legends (WCL) Season 2, competing in matches across , including a rain-affected encounter against Champions on July 19 at , Birmingham. During the tournament, Gayle scored 58 runs in five at a of 109.43, contributing to his team's efforts alongside teammates like and . In October 2025, Gayle returned to competitive play in the Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL), a T20 event commencing on October 25 at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, Kashmir, featuring global stars such as Martin Guptill and Shakib Al Hasan. He expressed enthusiasm for the tournament, highlighting its potential to deliver excitement to local fans. These appearances underscore Gayle's selective engagement in high-profile domestic and invitational formats to prolong his on-field presence and financial viability. Gayle has also leveraged his profile for endorsements and commentary. On October 25, 2025, the appointed him as brand ambassador for its sixth season in 2026, citing his global appeal and T20 expertise to elevate the tournament's visibility. Earlier, in February 2025, he forecasted as the likely winner of the 2025 during an interview with Sports Tak. Such roles and predictions maintain his influence in circles, enabling income diversification amid reduced international commitments.

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