Chris Gayle one of the biggest entertainers in Indian Premier League history has revealed the emotional struggle he faced during his final years in the tournament. The West Indies batting legend who lit up IPL with record breaking innings including the unforgettable 175 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru said his time with Punjab Kings left him hurt and disrespected.
Gayle who was picked by Punjab Kings in 2018 for INR 2 crore played 41 matches for the franchise scoring 1339 runs at a strong strike rate of 143. Despite his valuable contributions the veteran opener said he felt sidelined and mistreated. In 2021 when the league was played inside strict bio bubbles due to COVID-19 Gayle walked away midseason citing mental health struggles.
Speaking on a podcast with Shubhankar Mishra Gayle admitted that he went through one of the darkest phases of his career. “My IPL ended too early with Punjab. I was disrespected inside the franchise. I was treated like a youngster instead of someone who gave so much to the league. That was the first time I felt depression. I realized money cannot fix mental health” Gayle revealed.
The left hander shared that he opened up to then coach Anil Kumble during a private conversation before deciding to leave. “I called Anil and told him I was leaving because my mental space was broken. After playing against Mumbai I knew staying longer would only hurt me more. I broke down while speaking to him” Gayle said.
He added that KL Rahul the Punjab Kings skipper at the time also called him and requested him to continue playing. But Gayle said he had already made his decision. “Rahul wanted me to stay for the next match but I told him I was done. I packed my bags and walked away.”
Chris Gayle ended his IPL career with 4965 runs in 142 matches at a strike rate close to 149 leaving behind memories of towering sixes and fearless batting. Yet his revelations now expose the unseen struggles behind the bright lights of the league and how lack of respect and poor management at Punjab Kings forced him into early retirement.
