Is there a better T20 cricketer in the world than Chris Gayle? The statistics indeed suggest there is no one even close, and a lot of the fans will agree. 13720 T20 runs, 86 half-centuries, 22 centuries, 1053 fours, 1009 sixes – Gayle’s numbers in the shortest format of the game are scarcely believable. He holds the record of most runs, most hundreds, fastest hundred, most fours, and most sixes in T20 cricket. Will anyone ever come close to being as prolific as Gayle in the T20 format ever?
One of the very few active cricketers who made his international debut in the 1990s, Gayle is still going about his business like very few. The self-proclaimed Universe Boss did not have the best of starts to his international career as he managed just one double-digit score in five innings in an ODI tri-series involving India and Pakistan. However, once he found his feet in international cricket, there was no stopping him.
As much as Gayle has made his name in the T20 format, he loved his Test cricket as well. He played 103 Tests scoring over 7000 runs at an average of 42.15, including 37 half-centuries and 15 centuries. Gayle is one of only four cricketers in the world to have two triple tons to his name. He scored 317 in a Test match against South Africa, while his highest Test score of 333 came against Sri Lanka in 2010/11.
Gayle was an equal force in ODIs as well. He played 301 ODIs scoring 10,480 runs with 54 half-centuries and 25 hundreds to his name. However, it was in the T20 format where he wielded his willow like a gladiator tormenting bowlers all across the globe.
There is no ground big enough when Gayle decides to get going. Few can forget him thumping Brett Lee at the Lord Tennyson school outside Oval Cricket Ground or his brutal knock in the opening game of the 2007 T20 World Cup against South Africa. It comes as no surprise that Gayle is the first cricketer to score a century in all three formats of the game.
Gayle has often made his love for the T20 format known, something that has not gone down too well with the West Indies Cricket Board. The two have often been at loggerheads, which has meant Gayle missing out on many cricket matches for West Indies. However, that has meant being the main attraction in most T20 leagues all around the world.
The Jamaican was a hot pick in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League in 2008, where Kolkata Knight Riders picked him for 800,000 USD. He did not have the best of times at the franchise and was soon let go. He found no takers in the 2011 IPL Auction and was only picked as a replacement player by Royal Challengers Bangalore. What followed was three years of utter carnage. He battered 608 runs in 2011, 733 runs in 2012, and 708 runs in the 2013 season. During the 2012 season, Gayle struck 175* against Pune Warriors India, which remains the highest score in the history of T20 cricket.
Gayle’s reflexes have gone down with age catching up, but he remains a force to be reckoned with. Gayle will turn out for Punjab Kings in IPL 2021.
Chris Gayle Biography
| Full Name | Christopher Henry Gayle |
| Born | September 21, 1979 |
| Birth Place | Kingston, Jamaica |
| Height | 6’2” |
| Role | Batsman |
| Batting Style | Left Handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-Arm Off-spin |
| First Class Debut | 1998/99 |
| ODI Debut | Vs India, September 1999 |
| T20I Debut | Vs New Zealand, February 2006 |
| IPL Debut | Vs Delhi Capitals, May 2008 |
| Test Debut | Vs Zimbabwe, September 2000 |
Batting Stats & Records
| Format | M | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 50s | 100s | 4s | 6s |
| IPL | 132 | 4772 | 175* | 41.14 | 150.11 | 31 | 6 | 384 | 349 |
| Test | 103 | 7215 | 333 | 42.19 | 60.28 | 37 | 15 | 1046 | 98 |
| ODIs | 301 | 10480 | 215 | 37.7 | 87.2 | 54 | 25 | 1128 | 331 |
| T20Is | 61 | 1656 | 117 | 31.25 | 140.82 | 13 | 2 | 141 | 106 |
Bowling Stats & Records
| Format | M | Wkts | BBI | Econ | Avg | SR |
| IPL | 132 | 18 | 3/21 | 7.9 | 40.5 | 30.78 |
| Test | 103 | 73 | 5/34 | 2.63 | 42.74 | 97.38 |
| ODI | 301 | 167 | 5/46 | 4.79 | 35.49 | 44.46 |
| T20I | 61 | 17 | 2/15 | 7.09 | 22.18 | 18.76 |
Recent Matches:
| Team | Opposition | Date | Bat & Bowl |
| West Indies | Sri Lanka | 7 March 2021 | 13 |
| West Indies | Sri Lanka | 5 March 2021 | 16 |
| West Indies | Sri Lanka | 3 March 2021 | 0 |
| Gladiators | Qalandars | 22 Feb 2021 | 68 |
| Gladiators | Kings | 20 Feb 2021 | 39 |
| Abu Dhabi | Warriors | 5 Feb 2021 | 7 |
| Abu Dhabi | Qalandars | 5 Feb 2021 | 15 |
| Abu Dhabi | Bangla Tiger | 4 Feb 2021 | 1 |
| Abu Dhabi | Arabians | 3 Feb 2021 | 84* |
| Abu Dhabi | Warriors | 1 Feb 2021 | 2 |
Interesting Facts About Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle’s international career has spanned for almost 22 years now, and he has broken records aplenty during this time. From becoming the first player to score a century in all three formats of the game to hitting 1000 sixes in T20s, Gayle has done it all. Here we list down some interesting facts about Gayle.
- With 13,720 runs, Gayle is the highest run-scorer in the history of T20 cricket.
- Gayle is the first batsman to score a century in international cricket’s three formats – Tests, T20I, and ODI. He also recorded the first century in T20Is.
- Gayle is the first and so far the only batsman to score a triple century in Tests, double ton in ODIs, and a century in T20Is.
- Gayle holds the record for most centuries in T20 cricket (22).
- Gayle is the only player worldwide to have hit more than 1000 fours and 1000 sixes in T20 cricket.
- Gayle holds the record for the fastest T20 half-century alongside Yuvraj Singh and Hazratullah Zazai.
- Holds the record for the highest score in T20 cricket (175* against Pune Warriors India).
- Gayle is the first and only batsman so far to hit more than 300 sixes in the IPL.
How Gayle’s stats will help you in Fantasy Cricket?
There is little doubt that Chris Gayle is arguably the greatest T20 cricketer on this planet. Few have close to the plethora of records he has set, and it is unlikely a lot of his numbers will ever be surpassed. If he is playing a T20 game, it is evident that he will have a high credit score. However, Gayle’s stats will help you understand whether or not you should pick him in your MPL fantasy cricket XI. With age catching up, Gayle’s numbers have taken a hit over the years, and he is not the beast he used to be in the format. While playing the Indian T20 Fantasy league on MPL, keep in mind Gayle’s recent performances and only pick him. Download the MPL Fantasy Cricket app now!
