‘Universe Boss’ Gayle still IPL force at 41

DUBAI: West Indies batsman Chris Gayle is proving he’s still a threat at 41 after the “Universe Boss” smashed a second half-century in five games for Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League.

Gayle, who holds the IPL record for sixes, cracked 51 off 29 deliveries including five over the ropes as Punjab thrashed Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets to rise into the top four.

It was a typically explosive innings from the dreadlocked star, who plies his trade in Twenty20 leagues around the world after putting international cricket on a back-burner.

Gayle, one of the oldest players in the tournament, was benched for the early part of the IPL and then missed games over a stomach bug, but he has responded in style.

“Today the coach asked the senior players, we need to step up in crucial games, I am glad we were able to put my hand up,” man of the match Gayle said after the win.

“And the youngsters in the team are telling me, ‘Don’t retire.’”

Gayle put on a key partnership with Mandeep Singh, who hit an unbeaten 66 two days after the death of his father, as Punjab chased down their target of 150 in 18.5 overs.

He has injected life into Punjab’s faltering campaign after hitting a quickfire 53 in his first game of the IPL, which was delayed and moved out of India because of the coronavirus, on October 15.

“Chris, it was a very hard decision not to play him (in earlier games). He is the hungriest I have seen in the last seven-eight years playing for different franchises,” said Punjab captain KL Rahul.

“Running ones and twos. And you know how he keeps the dressing room upbeat. To do it over and over again, year after year.”

The flamboyant Gayle, who calls himself “Universe Boss”, is the leading scorer in T20 cricket with 13,473 runs, including his record 341 IPL sixes.