Chris Gayle has to be the biggest enigma in cricket. No batsman has ever instilled so much fear in a bowler before. At 1.88 meters, a gigantic frame, sinewy muscles, rock-like arms and a deadly stare through those helmet grille, Gayle is one batsman who can replicate what an intimidating pace bowler can do after bowling a bouncer.
From hoicking Brett Lee to the roof of the stadium in a Test match to slamming the first ball of a Test match for a six, every record that’s driven by the power of the bat has the signature of Chris Henry Gayle in bold. Yet, no knock perhaps defines him better than the 175 unbeaten runs he smoked against a hapless Pune Warriors side in the Indian Premier League in 2013.
Thrice in that IPL season, Gayle had threatened to fire big time. He started the season with an unbeaten 92 in 58 balls against Mumbai Indians. A 50-ball 89 in a successful run-chase against Kolkata Knight Riders further stamped down the form he was in. Three days before the fixture against Pune Warriors, Gayle hit an unbeaten 49 against Rajasthan Royals in another successful run-chase.
One could sense Gayle was getting fidgety. He was in such terrific form, but in four of the last five games before the Pune game in the season, he was batting in a run-chase. The West Indian needed an ordinary bowling attack, a deadly flat pitch and a chance to bat first to maximise the exceptional form he was in.
Chinnaswamy, Ali Murtaza and Aaron Finch electing to bowl first presented Gayle with a ticket to the golden gate.
The first over saw the giant West Indian make just 1 in 3 balls. But that’s typical Chris Gayle. You get no clue about the impending hurricane when he starts an innings. The half-hearted prods, the teasing defensive pushes and the uneasy drives are a way for him to calm himself down at the wicket.
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As Ishwar Pandey geared up for the follow up over, Gayle was already ready to tee off. The first two balls of the over was bludgeoned to the fence but the Gayle storm was preceded by an actual storm in Bengaluru and the game was stalled for a rain break. When play resumed, all but Gayle appeared to be a distant blur.
The Universe Boss was in full bloom. He hit Pandey for two more fours in the remainder of that over and then blasted Mitchell Marsh for four sixes and a four in the fifth over to race to a 17-ball half-century. Finch, looking to bowl some part-time spin, was clubbed for four sixes and a four too. Ali Murtaza was taken apart with five maximums and two fours in two overs.
The Chris Gayle storm had Chinnaswamy in a daze. He went past the century in 30 balls and the 150 in 53 balls. By 66 balls, Gayle had 175* to his name, Royal Challengers Bangalore a royale 263. Finch could barely believe his eyes as he glanced at the scorecard. The Chinnaswamy roared with Gayle chants. Gayle wore the same expressionless, deep-eye look.
When T20s first started, 175 was an unthinkable total. That day, one man..ONE man..made the score facing a little more than 50% of the balls in an innings. Asked about his breathtaking knock at the innings break, Gayle was as casual as ever – “All I asked for was a plain omlette and two cakes. Hopefully I can run around now and take a few catches.”
He did better. He bowled the final over of the Pune Warriors innings and picked up a couple of wickets by leaking just five runs.