Chris Gayle on Thursday (October 15) set the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on fire as the destructive left-hander announced himself in the ongoing 13th edition of the IPL 20202 for Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) with a brilliant fifty against Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
Gayle, batsman with the most sixes in IPL history, finally got to play in the ongoing IPL 2020 against RCB after having been sidelined for the first leg of the T20 League and the veteran batsman made the most of the batting friendly Sharjah wicket.
Coming at No. 3 on Thursday, the “Universe Boss” Gayle played a match-winning knock of 53 off 45 balls, cracking 5 sixes and 1 four, to play his part in the KXIP’s successful chase of 172 against the RCB.
Following the much-needed win over RCB, KXIP leg-spinner Murugan Ashwin said Gayle’s return gives a lot of energy to the Punjab camp as they are eyeing to qualify for the playoffs after their back to back setbacks in the ongoing IPL 2020, languishing at the bottom of the table with 2 wins in 8 matches so far.
Ashwin said at the post-match conference: “Chris coming back, gives a lot of energy to the side. We did not lose spirit even when we were losing. We were playing good cricket and it's just about getting over the line. We will take each game at a time. Make sure you cross the line and execute what you practice.”
The 30-year-old leg-spinner was the star for KXIP, dismissing the RCB’s dangerous pair of Aaron Finch and Washington Sundar while conceding only 23 runs in his four-over quota to play a significant role in the team’s massive 8-wicket win over the Bangalore.
Ashwin credited Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar for his fine economical performance against the RCB, saying watching the leg-spinners’ bowl during RCB's thumping 82-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders helped him find the right length at the same small Sharjah ground on the match day.
He added, “The wicket was holding up a bit. It was about executing length. It did have something for spinners. I was watching the ball previous game which RCB played. How their spinners bowled. I took a cue from that. I wanted to hit the right length and try to turn it as much as possible, turn it both ways.”
The spinner also admitted that bowling on small grounds like Sharjah that has short boundaries is challenging for the bowlers, especially in the shorter format of the game.
Ashwin signed off by saying, “It's a challenge and you have to accept it. You need to adapt and that's what we do in practice. If we can overcome that, that's the right way forward. This is a game of T20, all are close games. It's about who gets the better. It's about replicating these moments and keep adding to the points table.”
(With PTI Inputs)
