Chris Gayle mania: A look back at West Indies legend's record six
There have been many big hitters who have made the IPL their own but few have done it the way Chris Gayle did on almost a weekly basis at his best.
A number of big hitters have made the Indian Premier League (IPL) their own stage over the years but few have been able to do what Chris Gayle did on almost a weekly basis at his best. Gayle had a big reputation when he made his debut in the tournament and he ended up only enlarging it with some jaw dropping performances, the likes of which the league has not seen since.
Gayle holds the records for most sixes, most centuries and highest score in a match. While his tally of six tons could be equaled or crossed by at least four players this season, he is in a league of his own as far as the other two records are concerned. Today, we take a look at the centuries that the West Indies great has scored in the IPL.
1. 102 not out (55 balls): Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2011
Gayle's first team in the IPL was the Kolkata Knight Riders but he had meager returns with the team. By contrast, he flourished with his second side, the Royal Challengers Bangalore and it was in a match against his former team that he announced himself. RCB were chasing a target of 172 and they made it look like child's play thanks to Gayle's unbeaten 102 off 55 balls. They lost just one wicket, which went after an opening stand of 123 between Gayle and Dilshan after which he saw the team over the line with Virat Kohli at the other end.
2. 107 (49): RCB vs Kings XI Punjab, IPL 2011
It is telling that the highest scored for RCB on the day after Gayle's century was a tie between Virat Kohli's 27 off 31 balls and AB De Villiers's unbeaten 27 off 14. Gayle smacked 10 fours and nine sixes and helped RCB make a score of 205/6. In reply KXIP were limited to 120/9 and RCB won by 85 runs.
3. 128 not out (62): RCB vs Delhi Daredevils, IPL 2012
This time, Gayle's blitzkrieg included seven fours and a whopping 13 sixes. His opening partner Tillakaratne Dilshan fell in the third over after which Virat Kohli stuck with him for the rest of the innings. Kohli scored 73 off 53 in an unbeaten 204-run stand with Gayle that came in just 108 balls. RCB ended up scoring 215/1 but DD made a case of themselves, eventually being limited to a score of 194/9
4. 175 not out (66): RCB vs Pune Warriors, IPL 2013
The innings that is as archetypal as it gets when it comes to Chris Gayle. This remains the highest-ever individual score in a T20 match and it was an innings that was brutal and spectacular in its execution. Gayle hit two overs for 28 runs and there was one that went for 29. Over the years, there have been a few who have compared the impact of this innings on T20 cricket with what Brian Lara's 501 not out did to first class cricket. Gayle smashed 13 fours and an eye-watering 17 sixes as RCB scored 263/5 and Pune Warriors ended up not even match Gayle's score, eventually being limited to 133/9.
5. 117 (57): RCB vs KXIP, IPL 2015
As one-sided a game as it gets, RCB scored 226/3, thanks to Gayle's fifth IPL century and De Villiers' unbeaten 47 off 24. Gayle shared a 119-run partnership with Kohli, who was now his opening partner, and then a 71-run stand with De Villiers. In reply, KXIP were all out for 88 in 13.4 overs, handing RCB a mammoth 138-run win.
6. 104 (64): KXIP vs SunRisers Hyderabad, IPL 2018
This century may have been scored against SRH but for Gayle, this was probably one with which he made a point to all those teams in the preceding auction that chose to ignore him, especially RCB who chose not to retain him. "A lot of people might say that Chris has a lot to prove [as he] didn't get selected or didn't get picked earlier in the auction. But I can say: Virender Sehwag (KXIP team director), you saved IPL by picking me. Gayle hit just one four in this innings, and 11 sixes to boot. This also proved to be his last century in the league.