Former West Indies batsman Chris Gayle has revealed how AB de Villiers stopped him from becoming the first-ever player to score a double century in T20s. The most decorated batsman in T20s, Chris Gayle holds the record for the highest individual score in the shortest format of the game.
He had smashed a historic 175 not out while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore against now-defunct Pune Warriors in IPL 2013. The knock had come off just 66 balls and was studded with 13 fours and 17 sixes.
Thanks to his monumental knock, RCB had gone on to post a record total of 263 for 5. In reply, Pune Warriors could only manage to score 133 for 9 in the allotted 20 overs as RCB registered a record victory of 130 runs.
I could have gotten 215: Chris Gayle
Almost a decade after that monumental knock against Pune Warriors, Chris Gayle has revealed how AB de Villiers’ innings stopped him from creating more history. The legendary batsman has revealed that he could have easily smashed a double century if he was not asked to give the strike to AB de Villiers.
De Villiers had played a fine cameo in that match, scoring 31 off just 8 balls with the help of 3 fours and as many sixes.
“AB came in and scored like 30 runs in 8 balls or something like that. If the guys aren’t like ‘Chris, give him the strike’, I could have gotten 215,” Chris Gayle said during a conversation with Robin Uthappa at the JioCinema platform.
Chris Gayle also shared a heartwarming moment that took place after an incident that had happened during the same match. One of his sixes had broke a young fan’s nose. Following the mishap, Gayle had visited the fan in hospital and was moved by the event that took place there.
“The ball ricocheted off the wall and hit a young girl in the nose. Immediately, I went straight to the hospital and saw her with bloody nose and bloody clothes. She was like, ‘why are you sad? Don’t worry, hit more sixes!’ That was so amazing man.
“She helped me feel better by telling me that even when she’s in pain she wanted me to hit more sixes. It was a touching moment. The next game, every fan had a placard saying, ‘please break my nose’, so I can come visit them in the hospital,” Gayle narrated.