Chris Gayle made an explosive claim and revealed he felt depressed during his final year in the Indian Premier League (IPL) when he was playing for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at a time when the franchise was captained by Indian cricket star KL Rahul while legendary spinner Anil Kumble was the head coach.
Gayle accused the franchise of disrespecting him and claimed that he was disappointed with Kumble and cried with him during a one-on-meeting. The West Indies cricket legend stated that KL Rahul called him and urged him to stay, but he made up his mind and decided to leave with the 2021 T20 World Cup coming up.
“Oh my IPL ended prematurely, you know, with Punjab to be honest with you. Yeah I mean absolutely, I mean I was disrespected in the franchise, Punjab Kings XI. You know, I felt like I wasn’t being treated properly for a senior guy done so much for the league, you know, bring so much value to the franchise as well. And then you’re being disrespected and they treat you like a kid, you know, and then pretty much I’m just like I felt like the building was on my shoulder. That’s the first time in my life I ever felt like a depression mode. So when people speak about depression, I can get a little sense of that and it wasn’t for me,” said Gayle in an interaction on Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube Channel.
“So I know we talking about it’s our job working but at that stage money at that stage nothing. You don’t need money right there, your mental health is more important than money. I called Anil (Anil Kumble). I had a one-on-one discussion and say listen I’m leaving because at the same time as well I had the World Cup and we were in a bubble so you couldn’t come out so your mental space was just going, it was just really really puzzling and destroying you. I was destroyed inside and after the last game I played against Mumbai I’m like, ‘Yo, it doesn’t make sense. I’m going to do myself more damage rather than be at peace.
“So I called him and had a one-on-one talk to him, you know, actually breakdown as well, literally a breakdown when I was talking to him because I was really hurt. Oh yeah I cried and I was disappointed with Anil and how the entire thing was actually run, the franchise was actually run at that time and I said listen man thank you. KL Rahul was the captain, he called me and said, “Yo Chris, you know, you want to stay, you’ll play the next game.” And I said listen to me man I wish you guys all the very best. I just packed my bag and I walked out,” Gayle added.
Later in the same interaction, when the anchor called for Gayle to make an IPL comeback, the two-time T20 World Cup-winner claimed he was mistreated.
“I was mistreated. I am available. If they want to come, I will come. Oh yes, I do (have grudges). Like I say, loyalty is a big thing for you,” said Gayle.
What Happened With Chris Gayle?
For those unversed, Gayle is talking about the IPL 2021 when he decided to leave the camp mid-way during the second phase of the league, which took place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following the league’s suspension due to COVID-19.
Since the league’s resumption, Gayle played two of the three games. In the 2021 season, he featured in 10 matches and scored 193 runs at an average of 21.44.
With 4965 runs in 142 matches at an average of 39.72 and a strike-rate of 148.92 with six centuries, Gayle is among the greatest players in IPL history.
Gayle joined PBKS in 2018 and stayed with him till his final season in 2021.