Former West Indies captain, Chris Gayle, has stated that he was keen on representing his nation and that is what he had hoped for at the start of the season. However, circumstances have forced him to fly out to India and take part in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he is representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Gayle was dropped from the Windies team that was announced for the first part of the limited overs series against the touring Pakistanis. The series started off well for the hosts who won the one-off Twenty20 game, but it has all gone pear shaped since then and the home side has received a drubbing in each of the first two One Day Internationals at St. Lucia.
Gayle told media in India that in an ideal world he would have been representing the West Indies at the moment and making an effort to tackle the Pakistan spinners, who have tightened the screws around his batsmen. He added that he had no intentions of playing in the IPL this season.
"It was to be international cricket for me. Had I been picked, that would have been what I would have done," Gayle said. "I didn't have any thoughts about IPL4. I had written off IPL4, rather I was looking forward to its next year. I should have been there (in the West Indies) playing with the national team, but I am here. It is unfortunate but that is how it is."
Gayle added that he was not expecting a call from IPL franchises either and it only happened after a party late in the night in Jamaica.
The flamboyant left hander made a real impact in his very first outing for his new team as he played a mesmerizing unbeaten century that set up Bangalore's win against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Gayle’s knock was a typically belligerent 102 in 55 balls against his former IPL team, the Kolkata Knight Riders. At the end of the match he brushed aside concerns about an injury which was the official explanation for his axing by the West Indian Cricket Board.
"An opportunity presented itself, so I am here now to actually do what I can. I have got a good welcome from each and everyone, the players, the owners, and management staff. When asked about his abdominal strain, Gayle replied to the question with another one, "What did it look like during the match? That's what it is like now."
Meanwhile Gayle reiterated that he had little interest in the league after he was left unsold at the auction for players held last year, he stated that he was surprised that none of the franchises bid for him in the auction but was told later that the reason for the snub was that the West Indies international commitments against Pakistan during the major part of the IPL season.
On the other hand the cricket fans in the West Indies region are crying for the inclusion of the big hitter after the consistent failures of the batting line-up against the formidable Pakistan bowling attack.
The spin trio of Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez seem to have cast a spell on the Calypso batsmen who are struggling to keep stock of their sharp spinning and bouncing deliveries.
Gayle has the ability to turn a match on its head and given the sheer talent and boundary hitting capabilities at his disposal, the West Indian selectors should consider bringing him back in the national fold, however for that to happen immediately, Gayle would have to sever his IPL contract which looks a distinct possibility at the moment.
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