West Indies icon Chris Gayle, recognized as one of the most prominent figures in T20 cricket, has shared surprising details about his tenure in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In a frank discussion on a podcast hosted by journalist Shubhankar Mishra, Gayle claimed that an IPL team displayed “disrespect” towards him and confessed that the ordeal triggered a period of despondency for the first time in his life.
The cricketer, affectionately known as the “Universe Boss” due to his charismatic personality and explosive batting prowess, recounted the sequence of events during the 2021 IPL season, which was held under strict bio-secure protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chris Gayle reveals painful IPL experience with a franchise
Gayle’s involvement with the IPL dates back to the inaugural season in 2008. Throughout his career, he has represented Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Punjab Kings, leaving an enduring legacy with his aggressive batting style. His remarkable score of 175 not out for RCB in 2013 still stands as the highest individual score in IPL history, and his consistent performance as a top-order batter has made him a widely recognized name.
However, despite his status and contributions, Gayle conceded that his time with Punjab Kings between 2018 and 2021 concluded on a negative note. According to him, the team failed to accord him the respect he believed he deserved as a seasoned cricketer who had significantly enhanced the league’s popularity.
Reflecting on the 2021 season, Gayle explained how he felt disregarded and undervalued by the Punjab Kings management. The dynamic batter acknowledged that this experience marked the first instance in his life where he felt driven into a state of depression.
“Oh my IPL ended prematurely, you know, with Punjab to be honest with you. Yeah, I mean absolutely, I mean I was disrespected in the franchise, Punjab Kings XI. You know, I felt like I wasn’t being treated properly for a senior guy done so much for the league, you know, bring so much value to the franchise as well. And then you’re being disrespected and they treat you like a kid, you know, and then pretty much I’m just like I felt like the building was on my shoulder. That’s the first time in my life I ever felt like a depression mode,” said Gayle.
Emotional breakdown and conversation with Anil Kumble
Gayle further disclosed that the situation escalated to the point where he reached out to Anil Kumble, who was then serving as the head coach of Punjab Kings. He described how a deeply emotional conversation with the respected Indian coach left him in tears.
“I called Anil (Anil Kumble). I had a one-on-one discussion. I was destroyed inside. So, I called him and had a one-on-one talk to him, you know, actually breakdown as well, literally a breakdown when I was talking to him because I was really hurt. Oh yeah I cried and I was disappointed with Anil and how the entire thing was actually run, the franchise was actually run at that time and I said listen man thank you,” Gayle admitted.
