After a string of low scores, Chris Gayle has finally found some form in the ongoing Indian Premier League. The Royal Challengers Bangalore opener smashed a commanding 49 off only 31 balls in the crucial victory against Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday.
Gayle’s knock was laced with four towering sixes and five boundaries.
Catch the West Indies power-hitter in conversation with IPLT20.com after the game against KKR.
This storm was brewing inside you for long, isn’t it?
The storm was brewing slowly for sure. I wasn’t getting any runs of late but I have played so much cricket that I wasn’t really bothered too much. I wanted to entertain the fans in some form or the other. I am very happy as of now. I am happier for the fans rather than myself. They always want to see a Gayle storm and I am glad that I could give them some runs.
You have an outstanding record against KKR at the Eden Gardens. What is it about the opposition and venue that triggers you to perform even better?
Playing against KKR gives me a bit of confidence because at one stage this was my home ground as well. You are accustomed to the conditions and I have played a final here so I know what is actually required in the Eden Gardens.
As a team we knew 184 was always gettable on this surface. We know what it is like to play in Kolkata as well. The situation needed us to try and go from ball one. I just put that in the back of my mind and intended to keep going, keep attacking and keep being positive throughout. That was the mindset, to totally try and get past the first two overs. I haven’t got past the first two overs in a long time and once I broke that shackle then eventually things were set to play out smoothly.
How does it feel to get a string of low scores especially when so much is expected off you? What do you tell yourself at such times?
It was always a lot of pressure but I was always backing myself because these things do happen as a cricketer and you go to a stage where you think, what if the runs don’t come. You need to accept defeat and when you do that it is always a chance for you to rebound when you get a chance.
Every day is a new day and you try and start fresh and do what is required. You keep putting in the work and you know one day it will actually come together again. It was about still having that self confidence and hopefully this is the start of a new beginning. I hope I can set the pace again and try and give the team the start that is needed.
You have received a lot of backing from your captain and team management. Given your form and situation of the team in the tournament, what was the talk before the game started?
Definitely! I have got a lot of backing. I have been pretty relaxed throughout. It was an important day and in our team meeting today we said we are going to play fearless cricket. We said everybody needs to relax and enjoy the game and not put themselves under too much pressure. The captain and the coach asked us to enjoy our game and we were sure everything would come together.
Most of the times we have been batting first and we are a team that likes to chase as well. I am a person who likes to chase as well. When I am chasing a target I know how to actually work out my batting even better and which bowler I am going to take down.
Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers are batting in a different zone altogether. Your thoughts?
It is the most destructive batting pair at the moment and we have to give credit where it is due. They are two of the best players in the world now without a doubt. They enjoy each other’s company while batting together. You see those big partnerships; they are very fast between the wickets as well. The fielders and bowlers are always under pressure when those two are batting. They are remarkable and both have been scoring runs consistently right through the year.
All I can do is wish they continue this way, fill their boots as much as possible and don’t take their feet off the gas, keep pressing. They have been batting superbly. Virat, what a fantastic run he is in now. Congrats to him for most runs in an IPL season so far and we still have two games to go. These games are all very important to us. It is crunch time and it was a must-win situation for us. The intensity from the team was brilliant tonight. Hopefully we can make it to the playoffs as well.
This innings is almost like a warning from the World Boss isn’t it? Can we expect a big one at the M Chinnaswamy stadium?
It’s not World Boss, it is Universe Boss. All the Bengaluru fans can see a big one coming from Gayle. Since the World Cup I have been trying to please them in a particular way but it didn’t happen. I am looking forward to giving them more reasons to cheer, something they have been longing for some time now.
When I get an opportunity to do so, I am looking to press some gas. There is no Chris Gayle capability and there is not a situation where I get 49 runs and I have issued a warning. The Chris Gayle warning is always there for the bowlers regardless I get runs or not. CG is the ‘Universe Boss’.
