Gayle's exit from the IPL was rather unceremonious.
Former West Indies opener Chris Gayle is widely regarded as one of the greatest T20 players of all time. With over 14500 runs under his belt, the southpaw has featured in almost every franchise league across the globe.
Gayle was particularly successful in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He represented three franchises – Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings – and scored 4965 runs from 142 matches.
Gayle still holds the record of highest individual score (175* off 66 balls) in the IPL. He also boasts the record of most sixes – 357 – in the cash-rich league. Despite being an IPL legend, his exit from the tournament was rather unceremonious.
His last IPL appearance was in 2021, representing PBKS, before he left the season midway. The 45-year-old recently revealed what prompted him to make that move.
Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast, Gayle accused the franchise of disrespecting him. He also recalled breaking down while speaking to then-coach Anil Kumble as he discussed his mental state.
“Oh my IPL ended prematurely with Punjab. To be honest, I was disrespected at Kings XI Punjab. I felt I wasn’t treated properly as a senior player who had done so much for the league and brought value to the franchise. Instead, they treated me like a kid. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was slipping into depression," Gayle said.
“Your mental health is more important than money. I called Anil (Kumble) and told him I was leaving. At the time, we had the World Cup and were stuck in a bubble, which was destroying me mentally. After my last game against Mumbai, I thought, ‘This doesn’t make sense. I’ll do myself more damage by staying.’"
“I broke down talking to Anil because I was really hurt. I was disappointed with him and the way the franchise was run. KL Rahul, the captain, even called me saying, ‘Chris, stay, you’ll play the next game.’ But I just said, ‘I wish you all the best,’ packed my bag, and walked out," he added.
Talking about his possible IPL return, Chris Gayle said he was open but admitted there were grudges.
“I was mistreated. I am available—if they want me, I’ll come. But yes, I do have grudges. Loyalty means a lot to me," Gayle said.