New Delhi: West Indies veteran batsman Chris Gayle has revealed the reason behind his shocking decision to withdraw from Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Gayle, one of the biggest names in T20 cricket, has said he was not treated well for the past couple of years and did not get the respect he deserved. The legendary T20 batter decided to not register his name in the mega auction for the 15th season of the IPL. Gayle has played for Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Punjab Kings in his IPL career.
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The veteran was often benched for the past few seasons due to his dipping form. Gayle has been brilliant for Punjab over the years but could only play 17 matches in the last two seasons. He eventually ruled himself out from the second half of IPL 2021 citing fatigue from the bio bubble.
“For the last couple of years, the way the IPL went about, I felt like I wasn’t treated properly. So I thought ‘okay, you (Gayle) didn’t get the respect you deserved after you did so much for the sport and IPL.’ So I said ‘okay, that’s it, I’m not going to bother to enter the draft,’ so I left it as it is. There is always going to life after cricket so I’m just trying to adapt to normality," he told Mirror.co.uk
Gayle confirmed he will make his return in IPL 2023. "Next year I’m coming back, they need me!” he added.
Gayle has scored 4965 runs in 142 IPL matches. He scored 3163 runs in 85 matches for RCB at an average of 43 between 2011 and 2017. Though Gayle was about to go unsold in the IPL auction in 2018, Punjab Kings showed faith in him and acquired him for his base price.