IPL 2019: Chris Gayle’s brutal form in England ODIs excites Kings XI Punjab

Chris Gayle is one name that cannot be separated from the Indian Premier League (IPL). Irrespective of his age and the team he plays for, the Jamaican has always been among the brightest stars the tournament has seen since its birth in 2008. Gayle currently plays for Kings XI Punjab who picked him last year after his long association with Royal Challengers Bangalore came to an end. Though the 39-year-old did not play every game for his franchise, yet he slammed a hundred for them and maintained a strike rate of over 146.

Gayle is currently in superb form and hit two big hundreds for his national side against England in the ongoing five-ODI series. On Wednesday, Gayle hit 162 runs off just 97 balls in the fourth ODI in Grenada as the Windies were given a mammoth target of 419 by the Three Lions. Though the southpaw could not win it for his side, his massive hitting caught eyes of the world yet again and the Kings were happy that the king is back.

Gayle completed 10,000 ODI runs during his special knock – as the second Windies batsman after the legendary Brian Lara – besides 500 sixes in the match and these statistics certainly will make the Kings excited. The Punjab franchise, led by spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, has never won the IPL and though they started off well last season, they failed to maintain the momentum and missed out from grabbing a berth in the playoffs.

Gayle’s current form will re-energise the Kings for sure. In a tweet, the KXIP wrote: “Gayle paaji, tussi great ho” after he hit his 51-ball hundred on Wednesday.

Here is KXIP’s tweet

Gayle paaji, tussi great ho 🔥🙏#Cricket #WIvENG #Gayle #GayleStorm #SaddaSquad #LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi @henrygayle pic.twitter.com/fWfULBy5SA

— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) February 28, 2019

Gayle scored 368 runs in 11 games in IPL last year

For the KXIP last year, Gayle scored 368 runs in 11 games at an average of 40.88 with three fifties besides the unbeaten 104. He slammed 27 sixes in the tournament which is though far less than his highest number of 59 hit in 2012. The man has six hundreds in the IPL and going by the current form, the fans can expect him to belt a few more this season.

The Kings will open their campaign in IPL 12 with a match against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on March 25.

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