Windies star Chris Gayle might not have drawn top billing in the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) draft but remains highly respected among his peer as he prepares for a new season with the Kings XI Punjab.
The 38-year-old Gayle was not retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and only picked up by Punjab in the third round of the draft ahead of the new season. In addition team director Virender Sehwag admitted that the player was only looked at as a backup opener.
Nonetheless, for the likes of Australian fast bowler Andre Tye, also drafted by Punjab, bowling to Gayle in training will be one of the things he most looks forward to when the competition begins.
“It’ll be an awesome experience,” he exclaimed, before adding, “He (Gayle) has been the boss of T20 cricket for so long, it is fun and also scary at times bowling to the likes of him in the nets because they hit the ball very hard and you try not to get hit by it.
“It’s a true test of how well you’re bowling and how you’re able to control the ball for there’s not a lot of margin for error with these guys.”
Kings XI Punjab signed the bowler, who recently claimed his maiden five-for in the One Day International against England, for a whopping Rs. 7.2 Crore. (SportsMax)
