Punjab Kings (PBKS) batsman Chris Gayle had a good first game as he scored a good 40 off 29 deliveries but after that there has been nothing as his scores in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) read 10, 11, 15 and the team has lost all three games.
While talking to ESPNcricinfo, former India pacer Ajit Agarkar said that this Gayle situation is tricky and PBKS cannot keep him in the XI if he is not scoring runs.
“I don't know, he started well. He got 40 in the first game. The challenge with Chris Gayle is that he did not play the first few games last season and then came back and he was as good as ever. So I can understand it is a difficult decision to sit him out,” he said.
Agarkar then pointed out that even Nicolas Pooran from whom the side had high hopes is not scoring runs either.
“Their problem is that Nicholas Pooran is not scoring run either, who they must have had high hopes from. It's a tricky one. I don't know how long they can keep playing Chris Gayle, if he is not getting runs,” the right-arm quick added.
The 43-year-old then suggested someone like Dawid Malan could come in as Gayle’s replacement but the team should bat well together.
“But at this stage, do you look at someone like Dawid Malan, who is sitting outside at the moment. But overall, they also have to bat better. Chris Gayle is just one of the guys who played a poor shot,” Agarkar said.
After the loss against SRH, the Punjab-based franchise will take on defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) on Friday (23 April) at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
(With ESPNcricinfo inputs)
