IPL: 5 worst decisions taken by franchise owners in the history of the tournament

KKR not retaining Chris Gayle

For somebody who smashed sixes with absolute ease, it came in as shocker when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) chose not to keep Chris Gayle ahead of IPL 2011. Gayle scored at an average of 30 and strike rate of 140 in two years playing for KKR. The franchise was, however, looking for a renovation and released him. The Jamaican wasn’t picked in the auction either.

Gayle’s career was into a hitch until he was called in as a replacement of Dirk Nannes for RCB. And then followed was nothing less than an exciting movie script. Making a comeback he straightaway smacked a century against his former team and later single-handedly took RCB to the finals.

Gayle hammered more than 3,000 runs for RCB at a strike rate of 152. Finally, when it seemed his time is over RCB released him ahead of 2018 auctions only for Punjab to buy him at the base price. Interestingly, Gayle clouted a century in the second match he played for KXIP!