Chris Gayle says he quit IPL early due to ‘disrespect’ at Punjab Kings

ISLAMABAD: West Indies batting great Chris Gayle has disclosed that he walked away from the Indian Premier League (IPL) after feeling “disrespected” during his stint with Punjab Kings.

Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast, the celebrated left-handed hitter said his premature departure from the tournament stemmed from how he was treated by the franchise.

“My IPL ended prematurely with Punjab. I was disrespected at Kings XI. I felt I wasn’t treated properly as a senior who had done so much for the league and brought value. They treated me like a kid,” Gayle recalled.

“For the first time in my life, I felt like getting into depression. I broke down talking to Anil Kumble because I was really hurt. I was disappointed with him and the way the franchise was run,” he added.

The 45-year-old further revealed that then-captain KL Rahul urged him to stay. “KL Rahul even called me saying, ‘Chris, stay, you’ll play the next game’. But I just said, ‘I wish you all the best’, packed my bag, and walked out,” he said.

Chris Gayle remains one of the most prolific players in IPL history, with 14,562 runs in 463 T20 matches, including 22 centuries, 88 half-tons, and a record 1,056 sixes.

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Chris Gayle’s performance vs accusations

Chris Gayle lashed out at Punjab Kings for ‘mistreatment,’ which should be thoroughly investigated, as such behaviour towards any player – let alone the ‘Universe Boss’ himself – is deplorable.

However, the stats suggest that the franchise gave him an opportunity when most teams had already moved on from the ageing powerhouse.

Chris Gayle singed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in April 2011, and enjoyed legendary status in the IPL for his match-winning exploits alongside Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.

But RCB endured two lean seasons in 2016 and 2017. Across 19 innings, Gayle managed just 427 runs at an average of 22.47 and a strike rate of 136.4 — a shadow of his prime.

Gayle struggled at 2018 auction

Gayle decline prompted RCB to release him, and in the 2018 auction, none of the franchises initially bid for the Jamaican.

At 39, battling injuries and poor form, Chris Gayle went unsold until Punjab Kings secured him at his base price of INR 2 crores.

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In hindsight, the Kings did more than just sign a veteran; they extended a career that looked in danger of fading.

Between 2018 and 2020, Gayle repaid that faith with flashes of his old brilliance, scoring 1,339 runs at a healthy average of 36.19 and a strike rate of 143.21.

However, his limitations in the field and recurring fitness issues reduced his impact.

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By the 2021 season, his returns had dipped again. In 10 innings, he scored only 193 runs at 21.44 with a strike rate of 125.32. Nearing 42, the “Universe Boss” was struggling to keep pace with the league’s younger crop of power-hitters.

Punjab Kings eventually chose not to retain him ahead of the 2022 season — a decision that, given his fitness concerns and dwindling returns, appeared logical.

While Gayle’s grievances about respect remain personal, the record shows that Punjab Kings not only backed him when others didn’t but also provided the platform for his late-career flourish.