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“When I Got A Call…”: Chris Gayle Reveals The Story Behind His First RCB Call-Up

Poulomi Chakraborty

AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle [Source: AFP Media]AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle [Source: AFP Media]

In T20 cricket, a power-hitter like Caribbean star Chris Gayle is rare, as the batter has showcased his excellence even in the IPL stage. Donning multiple jerseys across his glorious IPL career, he entertained fans with his outstanding batting.

Among all his IPL journeys, Chris Gayle’s time with Royal Challengers Bangalore holds a special place. In a recent interaction, Gayle revealed how he received his first call from the franchise during IPL 2011.

Gayle Opens Up On How He Received RCB’s Offer

Known for his power-hitting and brilliance in the T20 format, Chris Gayle made his IPL debut for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2009. After the franchise released him in 2011, he remained unsold in the auction. However, that changed his fortune after the IPL 2011 began. Being away from the cash-rich league, he was in his homeland, but destiny had some other plans.

After Dirk Nannes was ruled out in the mid-season due to an injury, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru were in search of his replacement, and then they opted for Gayle. In a recent podcast with Shubhankar Mishra, the Universe Boss revealed how he got a call from the franchise.

“2011, when I got a call, I was at a nightclub in Jamaica. Whatever happened with the breakdown with West Indies Cricket, where I was not even selected for a home series against Pakistan. Coming from a World Cup loss and then had an injury too. I was very disappointed. So, long story short, I was at a nightclub and that time, I wasn't playing any cricket,” he said.

“I got a call. It was Vijay Mallya and Anil Kumble. They asked me if I was fit. I was like, 'Is this for real?' I said, "Yes, I am fit". They said, 'If you're fit, what we need you to do is go to the embassy tomorrow and get the visa.' But I said tomorrow is Saturday. They said, 'Don't worry about that. Just turn up.' I turned up next day, got my visa and then took my flight and you know, Easter started from that time,” he added.

Even after making his debut in 2009, Chris Gayle’s IPL graph rose after he joined RCB in 2011. Over seven thrilling seasons, he featured in 91 matches, racked up 3,420 runs, and smashed five unforgettable centuries, cementing his name as one of the league’s most explosive stars.

 Back-to-back in 2011 and 2012, Chris Gayle dominated the IPL as the tournament’s highest run-scorer. In IPL 2013, Gayle played an immortal innings of 175 runs in just 66 deliveries against the Pune Warriors. That knock still stands as the highest individual score in IPL history.