Arguably the greatest T20 batsman of all-time Chris Gayle featured in the IPL for 13 straight seasons from 2009 to 2021, piling up 4965 runs at an average of 39 and strike rate of 148.
Hailed as the ‘Universe Boss’, Chris Gayle cracked 31 fifties and 6 centuries in the IPL while turning up for three different teams – Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Punjab Kings.
While he amassed such big numbers and several records, one bowler, Chris Gayle revealed, troubled him was Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian fast bowler who made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians in 2013 and has now become a pillar for MI in the IPL and for Team India.
“I pick Bumrah,” Gayle said in a show when asked to name the toughest bowler he has faced.
Jasprit Bumrah never dismissed Chris Gayle, but kept the opener quiet
The 43-year-old explained that Bumrah’s uncanny and unusual action made it difficult for the batters, including himself, and add to it Bumrah’s skilset of variations, including a clever slower ball makes the pacer “very unique”.
“Bumrah absolutely. I am not going to pick an off-spinner like Bhajji or Ashwin, but definitely Bumrah. You just can’t seem to get him. Difficult to play his slow ball, his variations are very, very unique,” Gayle added.
Although Bumrah never dismissed Gayle in the 10 matches he bowled to him, Bumrah managed to keep Gayle quiet, conceding 37 runs in 48 balls – that is a strike rate of 77, which is a commendable job done by the fast bowler.
Speaking of Bumrah, the fast bowler is currently recovering from a back injury that has forced him to miss all action since September, including the T20 World Cup. Bumrah is also not named in the squad for the first two Tests against Australia.
India and Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma is hopeful that Bumrah will be fit for the last two Tests against Australia. If not, Bumrah will return in the IPL 2023.
“About Bumrah, I’m not too sure at the moment, of course for the first two Test matches he’s not going to be available,” Rohit said after India swept New Zealand 3-0 in the ODI series. “I’m expecting that; not expecting but hoping he plays the next two Test matches but again we don’t want to take any risk with him. The back injuries are always critical. We have got lot of cricket coming up after that as well, we will see, and we will monitor. We are in constant touch with doctors and physios at NCA and we are constantly hearing from them.”
