Staff Writer – Archi
India was shaken on Tuesday. No it was not due to any earthquake or nuclear explosion but because of the giant West Indian called Chris Gayle.
The Pune Warriors players must still be thinking what actually hit them even long after their Indian Premier League match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore ended at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on Tuesday.
West Indian opener Gayle played one of those unforgettable knocks that will probably go into cricketing folklore. The huge Jamaican played a 66-ball 175-run unbeaten innings to smash record after records on the way.
Gayle’s 30-ball century eclipsed the 34-ball hundred scored by Australian Andrew Symonds for Kent against Middlesex in 2004. The left-hander also posted the highest individual score in a Twenty20 game, going past New Zealander’s Brendon McCullum’s 158 scored in the first edition of the IPL.
The West Indian finished off the match claiming two wickets also in his one over and celebrated with his signature Gangman-style dance.
“It was my first over of the IPL,” Gayle said. “Thought it was nice to finish off that way. Some people keep on asking – they have seen the Gangnam style in international cricket but why not in IPL. I thought it was the perfect time. I got a wicket and everything worked out perfectly. The crowd is pleased and happy – I’m glad to see that. I’m an entertainer so I try and entertain as much as possible. They pay the money to come and see good cricket,” he said.
With anything bowled to him disappearing at different corners of the stalls, a TV commentator jokingly asked him what he had for breakfast.
Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Chris Gayle celebrating his century against Pune Warriors India during IPL T20 at M.Chinnaswammy Stadium in Bangalore on Tuesday 23th April 2013.
“I was up all night and couldn’t sleep. I ordered room service at 6:30 in the morning; one omelette, two pancakes and one hot chocolate. I went to bed only at 7:30. That’s all I have to eat on such days. Hopefully I get something to eat now,” Gayle laughed.
Even cricketing great Sunil Gavaskar commented that every spectator should be provided with helmet when Gayle is batting in the middle. “No body is safe when Gayle is batting,” Gavaskar commented
The Jamaican too enjoyed his innings. “Words cannot explain how I feel. Maybe, later on, when I’m by myself, I can reflect on what happened today (Tuesday). It was a breathtaking game and happy to be on the winning side,” a calm Gayle told reporters at a post-match presser.
His innings created a ripple all around the country with social media going ga ga about the knock and all newspapers the next day has Gayle’s picture on the front page. Even India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni twitted: Its all about choice and seeing Gayle bat I think I am happy to be standing at the back of the wicket.”
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