Chris Gayle is undoubtedly an IPL icon. He is among the most successful batters in the history of the tournament, with his destructive innings at the top of the order often deciding the outcome of matches.
Across 142 matches, he scored 4,965 runs at a strike rate of nearly 148.9. He managed six centuries and 31 half-centuries, with a highest score of 175 not out. Gayle also smashed 357 sixes in the tournament, placing him among the leading six-hitters in IPL history. Over the years, he represented Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Punjab Kings, with his most iconic performances coming during his time with Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Gayle’s legacy in the IPL is defined by his brutal hitting and the records that followed, the most notable being his unbeaten 175 off just 66 balls against Pune Warriors India in 2013. The innings was a brutal display of power hitting, featuring 13 fours and a staggering 17 sixes—the most ever hit in a single IPL innings. It was also the fastest century in IPL history, reaching the milestone in just 30 balls; a feat that still stands among the quickest hundreds in the format.
The Jamaican won the Orange Cap—awarded to the tournament’s highest run-scorer—in back-to-back seasons in 2011 and 2012 while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Now, former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has claimed that the "Universe Boss's" entry to RCB in 2011 was nothing short of cinematic.
How Gayle was roped in by the 'Play Bold' camp
Speaking on ‘The Overlap Cricket’ with Michael Vaughan, Modi said that Gayle was disturbed by the fact that he went unsold in that edition's auction. “He [Gayle] said, 'I really wanted it, I have a huge debt, and I think I need it to pay my bills.' I made a few calls. Call one, two, three. Everybody said no,” Modi told the former England captain.
According to Modi, he was in London when he received a call from Gayle seeking help. He had tried reaching out to franchises on his own, but the responses were not promising. While Modi made it categorically clear that the left-hander's performance up to that point in the tournament had been below par, he decided to talk to Vijay Mallya. The liquor baron's team had an opening due to an injury, and Modi decided to vouch for Gayle.
“I went across the road to Vijay Mallya’s house. I said, 'Vijay, give this bloke a try.' He said, 'You know, I think Nathan’s been injured or something.' Nathan was injured. He said, 'I have an opening. But I’ll pay him if he performs,'” Modi reportedly said. Things did work out and, as they say, the rest is history!
Interestingly, both Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya face legal cases in India over alleged financial irregularities. They have denied the allegations against them.
