Chris Gayle proved to be the boost of energy that the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) team needed in the second half of the IPL 2020, in which they finished in the 6th spot. KXIP had started badly losing 6 out of their first 7 games and were looking for an early exit from the tournament.
Their biggest asset Chris Gayle had been benched for the first few games and missed a couple more due to a stomach bug which earned him a hospital stay as well. But he was soon included in the playing XI and tides turned for the Punjab based franchise.
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As batting at no.3, Gayle along with Nicholas Pooran kept the momentum going in the middle overs against spinners, while Rahul and Mayank took care of the pacers at the start of the innings in the powerplay. Experts could only wonder what would have happened if KXIP team management included Gayle in the playing XI right from the start.
He eventually played after seven games and fired straightaway to end with 288 runs at 41.14 including a 99.
The same sentiments were echoed by KXIP co-owner Ness Wadia as well. "The team management did what it thought was best for the team. It is important to back experienced players and Gayle has demonstrated that he should play every game next season," said the co-owner.
Talking about the future under Kumble and Rahul, Wadia said: "We have a charted a three-year strategy with Anil. We revamped this season and finished sixth and lost (the play-off spot) only by one game. K L has been with us for three years and there was a reason why we went after him so aggressively. He has proved us right.”
"It is tough for the top order when your middle order is not performing. The good thing is that we have an established core now (Rahul, Agarwal, Pooran, Gayle, and Shami) and we need to plug the gaps which are quite apparent (middle-order and death bowling),” Wadia said about the plans for the upcoming auction for IPL 2021.
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Wadia also opined on KL Rahul’s captaincy and said, “Rahul captained exceedingly well and gained in confidence with each game. We are lucky to have him. Shami has been brilliant too and has adjusted brilliantly to the T20 format. Pooran and the young Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh too performed well.”
KXIP had the services of T Natarajan (now SRH) and Varun Chakravarthy (KKR) in the past but they let them go.
"Imagine if we had those players, Sam Curran (CSK) also but again it is all in hindsight. Each coach who comes in has a thought process and a manner of conducting himself like any other CEO of a company. One has to allow them time to settle, provide stability, and allow them to make mistakes and learn from them and take the team forward," said Wadia.
(PTI inputs)
