"Disrespected in Punjab Kings, started crying, called KL Rahul"- Chris Gayle shares disturbing IPL story

Former West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle revealed that he felt disrespected by the Punjab Kings (PBKS) during the IPL 2021 season. Gayle stated that the franchise didn’t treat him properly despite his contributions and seniority and added that he cried during a one-on-one meeting with Anil Kumble.

The left-handed batter’s IPL stint with Punjab Kings ended in 2021. He had played four seasons for the franchise from 2018 to 2021. The 2021 edition started on April 9 but was suspended on May 4 due to COVID-19. The tournament resumed on September 19.

Gayle played two matches after the restart, with his final game against the Mumbai Indians (MI) on September 28. The legendary cricketer announced on September 30 that he would withdraw from the remainder of the season, citing fatigue from the bio-bubble.

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I Was Disrespected in the Punjab Kings - Chris Gayle

Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube channel, Chris Gayle talked about his experiences with the Punjab Kings in the IPL. Gayle admitted that the treatment left him in a “depression mode.”

"Oh my IPL ended prematurely, you know, with Punjab, to be honest with you. Yeah, I mean, absolutely, I mean, I was disrespected in the franchise, Punjab Kings XI. You know, I felt like I wasn’t being treated properly for a senior guy done so much for the league, you know, bring so much value to the franchise as well,” Gayle said.

"And then you’re being disrespected and they treat you like a kid, you know, and then pretty much I’m just like I felt like the building was on my shoulder. That’s the first time in my life I ever felt like a depression mode. So when people speak about depression, I can get a little sense of that and it wasn’t for me,” he added.

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You Don't Need Money Right There - Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle revealed that he felt continuing in the tournament was pointless, especially with the T20 World Cup around the corner. Gayle stated that he prioritized his mental health over money and added that the bio-bubble environment was mentally exhausting.

“So I know we talking about it’s our job working but at that stage money at that stage nothing. You don’t need money right there; your mental health is more important than money. I called Anil (Anil Kumble)."

"I had a one-on-one discussion and say listen I’m leaving because at the same time as well I had the World Cup and we were in a bubble so you couldn’t come out so your mental space was just going, it was just really really puzzling and destroying you."

"I was destroyed inside and after the last game I played against Mumbai I’m like, ‘Yo, it doesn’t make sense. I’m going to do myself more damage rather than be at peace.’”

Chris Gayle Played for RCB Before Joining the Punjab Kings

Chris Gayle played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) before joining Punjab Kings in 2018. He played four seasons with PBKS, scoring 1,339 runs in 41 matches at an average of 36.18, including one century and 10 fifties. He is the franchise’s sixth-highest run scorer.

The left-handed batter’s best seasons were 2018 and 2019, when he averaged over 40 and scored multiple fifties. However, he struggled in 2021, managing just 193 runs in 10 innings.

Gayle had immense success with RCB, including an unbeaten 175 against Pune Warriors in 2013, which remains the highest individual score in a T20 match. He amassed 4,965 runs in 142 IPL matches, including six centuries and 31 fifties.

Overall, Gayle holds records for most T20 centuries and runs. He scored 14,562 runs from 463 games at an average of 36.22, including 22 centuries and 88 fifties.

Also read: Shreyas Iyer issues official statement on being dumped out of Asia Cup 2025