Chris Gayle is arguably IPL’s most destructive batsman of all time with staggering 282 sixes, record 6 tons

Since the inception of the league, there has been many ups and downs for the best of players and teams, however one thing which remains constant is the threat of the Gayle storm which looms large over bowling attacks whenever the hard hitting Jamaican steps onto the field to take guard in his typical Calypso swagger

The Indian Premier League shall get into its 12^th season when the money spinning T20 league gets underway with the first match between defending champs Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai on March 23^rd. The cash rich T20 league which has been into existence for over a decade and bloomed into one of the most sought after T20 league in the world has seen many stalwarts with the willow and the red cherry grace the tournament and put up some memorable performances for their respective franchises. Since the inception of the league, there has been many ups and downs for the best of players and teams, however one thing which remains constant is the threat of the Gayle storm which looms large over bowling attacks whenever the hard hitting Jamaican steps onto the field to take guard in his typical Calypso swagger.

One won’t be wrong in saying that Chris Gayle has been one of the most destructive batsman in the history of the Indian Premier League. There is hardly a batting record against which Chris Gayle doesn’t have his name. The belligerent Jamaican opener has played some absolute blinders in the IPL which have left fans at the edge of their seats and bowling attacks in absolute shatters. 

Gayle had a pretty understated start to his IPL career when he turned out for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2009 and 2010 season of the tournament. Gayle by his lofty batting standards dint have much impact with the Purple and Golden brigade However, Gayle truly came to his fore when he was snapped up by Royal Challengers Bangalore before the 2011 edition of the league. Ever since, Gayle became a formidable force in the batting heavy line-up for Red Brigade in Bengaluru for over seven odd seasons. The West Indian was a part of one of the most lethal batting troikas which also comprised of South African batting genius AB De Villiers and Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli . Gayle was in all conquering mode for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2011 season where he amassed a staggering 608 runs to be crowned as the player of the tournament. Among many of his glittering achievements with the bat in the IPL, Chris Gayle holds the unique distinction of being the only player to have won the Orange Cap twice. The Windies opener was the highest run scorer in the 2011 and 2012 season of the league.

GAYLE HAS SCORED THE MOST SIXES IN THE HISTORY OF THE IPL - 282

Gayle’s enormous six hitting prowess is no hidden secret and his lusty hitting has earned him the tag of the highest six hitter in the history of the league. With a staggering 282 sixes, Gayle is the run-away leaders in terms of the sixes hit by a batsman in the IPL. With a mind blowing 59 sixes in the 2012 edition of the IPL, he also holds the record for hitting the maximum sixes in one edition of the league. In his mammoth 175-run unbeaten knock against Pune Warriors in the 2013 season, the Jamaican powerhouse struck a record 17 sixes, a feat which seems hard to beat.

GAYLE HAS SCORED THE MOST TONS IN THE HISTORY OF THE IPL - 6

What really makes Gayle's IPL record even more impressive is the consistency with which he has scored his runs. Given the aggressive manner in which he bats, the southpaw has been a pretty dependable stroke maker amassing a touch under 4000 runs at an impressive average of over 40 with a strike rate of 150 plus.. Once he gets his eye in, he usually makes it count by scoring some whirlwind tons. It comes as no major surprise that Gayle is the highest century maker in the history of the competition. He stands atop the list of IPL century makers with six tons to his name.

GAYLE HAS THE HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORE IN THE LEAGUE HISTORY – 175* vs Pune Warriors

Though Gayle has played some of the most destructive knocks in the IPL, one knock which exhibited a full repertoire of his lusty hitting was his unbeaten 175-run knock against Pune Warriors in the 2013 edition of the tournament. The sheer carnage inflicted by Gayle is considered by many as the most brutal assault on any bowling attack in T20 cricket. The aggresive lefthander broke many records including the fastest ton off just 30 balls and the highest individual score in the history of the league.

At the ripe old age of 39, Gayle is not getting any younger and the last few seasons has seen his form weaning away a little bit with him not being the same threat as he was at one time .However, Gayle sent down a telling reminder to all his critics that he still possessed some of that brutal yet entertaining magic with the willow, when he got a second lease of life with Kings Eleven Punjab in the last edition of the league. Gayle scored a belligerent unbeaten ton against Sunrisers Hyderabad and also chipped in with three quick fire fifties for the Kings Eleven Punjab.

Gayle who recently made a sort of comebacks for the Windies in ODIs against England was at his lethal best marauding the English bowlers to all corners of the parks. So the big man from the Caribbean would look to carry that golden run of  form into the IPL and end his stellar career on a high note in what seems to be his last appearance.