Universally acclaimed boss of T20 hits Bangalore’s plans for a six

By K.R. Nayar

Chris Gayle lifts Kings XI Punjab from the abyss of despair to announce that keeping him out was a blunder

Chris Gayle loves to be called the Universal Boss, and he has been universally accepted as the Boss of limited over cricket. Kings XI Punjab’s must have realised on Thursday that the decision to keep him out of the eleven until Thursday, especially when he can boss over any bowler, was a blunder.

In the first opportunity he was given in this edition, he smashed 53 runs and ensured his team a victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore. Virat Kohli’s men had arrived at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium with the hope of winning the match over Punjab who is at the bottom of the points table and clinch the top spot. Gayle’s knock was like lifting the team from an abyss of despair. He had watched his team from the dug-out losing matches one after the other. To add to his misery, a bout of food poising hit him as well. But on Thursday, at the batting crease, he looked stronger than all the rest while hitting those powerful five sixes. His knock made the effort of his skipper K L Rahul, who hit a belligerent 61, and player of the match Mayank Agarwal’s effort of 45 runs in 25 balls, not go in vain.

For some cricketers, age is never a barrier for exhibiting their skills. Gayle is 41 years old but he still has the strength of a teenager. His hand, eye, and foot coordination is sharp and that is why when he hits, the ball crashes into the stands.  Gayle knows that his age factor is dipping his value and team managements hesitate to play him in the eleven. So he sat in the dugout knowing well that if he was picked he would have hit their opponent's plans for a six, and that is what he did on Thursday.

Punjab had virtually gifted the match to Bangalore with Mohammad Shami giving away 24 runs in the last over. If that wasn't enough, they struggled to get two runs in the last over, once again nearly giving away the match to Kohli's team. Finally, they won due to Gayle’s country man Nicholas Pooran's brave last-ball six.

Playing a fearless game is the strength of the West Indies players. Gayle showed no signs of anxiety to prove a point in his first match. He unleashed his strokes with his characteristic nonchalant attitude. When Gayle was asked by a commentator if he was nervous, he retorted back asking him 'how can the universal boss be nervous?' Throughout his career, he has only made bowlers nervous, upset opponents, and entertained those who watch him.