The Final Act of Gayle’s IPL Journey Ends in Bitterness

T20 cricket means a storm of sixes and fours, a flood of runs, and one legendary name—Chris Gayle. The “Universe Boss,” as the Caribbean superstar is famously known, can rightly be called the maestro of the shortest format. His bat was like thunderbolts to bowlers! And the stage where Gayle spent most of his time was none other than the IPL, India’s world-famous T20 league that helped popularize the format globally. Gayle himself was one of the key catalysts in igniting that spark.

Gayle’s IPL journey began in 2008 with Kolkata Knight Riders. He then spent seven seasons with Royal Challengers Bangalore before playing his final four editions with Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). But his Punjab chapter ended on a bitter note. What was once a franchise close to his heart eventually left scars of disappointment.

In a recent interview, Gayle revealed how disrespected he had felt at Punjab towards the end of his IPL career. Battling mental pressure inside strict bio-bubble life during the pandemic, he was left out of the playing XI and felt isolated. The treatment he received pushed him to a breaking point.

“My IPL career ended earlier than it should have. I felt disrespected by Punjab. As a senior player, I didn’t get what I deserved. At one point, I felt like a kid. That was the first time in my life I experienced depression,” Gayle admitted.

He wasn’t picked even on his birthday. For Gayle, it was no longer about money, but about peace of mind.

“The mental state was gradually destroying me. After my last match against Mumbai, I felt, no more. I needed peace. I didn’t want to hurt myself anymore,” Gayle recalled.

Before making that tough decision, Gayle spoke to head coach Anil Kumble and captain KL Rahul. “I spoke to Kumble. I was really struggling. I even broke down in tears. Rahul told me, ‘Don’t go, you’ll play the next match.’ But I simply said, ‘Good luck to you guys.’ Then I packed my bags and left,” Gayle revealed.