Not Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli! Chris Gayle bluntly claims he 'revamped the sport of cricket'

Former West Indies opening batter Chris Gayle recently opened up about his role in popularizing T20 cricket worldwide. Chris Gayle asserted his influence on transforming the shorter format of the game, emphasizing his pioneering impact on cricket’s evolution.

Chris Gayle, known for his aggressive batting style, has established himself in international cricket across all formats of the game. The southpaw has earned the nickname of “The Universe Boss” for his remarkable contributions to the shortest format of the game.

The Universe Boss boasts the highest run tally in T20 cricket, showcasing his dominance across various franchise leagues globally. Despite not announcing his retirement, Gayle’s last international appearance was during the 2021 T20 World Cup against Australia.

The One And Only Universe Boss – Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle acknowledged his pivotal contribution to the global rise of T20 cricket, underscoring his transformative influence across various formats. He emphasized his role in revolutionizing the sport, asserting the need for recognition and ownership of his impact.

“Absolutely. That goes without saying. One of a kind you know. The one and only Universe Boss. Totally agree with you but sometimes an individual doesn’t want to take that sort of credit and own up to it, yes I’ve done that and I’ve done this. But you know what, I’m going to own it right now. (laughs) It’s me. I revamped the sport of cricket. And I’m talking all formats,” Gayle told Cricbuzz in an interview.

T20 cricket’s impact has been profound, notably marked by its inclusion in the Olympics, signifying its global recognition and acceptance. This influence has transcended into other formats, evident in the aggressive approach observed in the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Teams, starting with England, have embraced a more attacking style of play even in traditional red-ball cricket, reflecting T20’s pervasive influence on the sport’s evolution.

Chris Gayle’s Career In the Indian Premier League

Chris Gayle had a remarkable stint in the IPL, leaving a lasting mark with his batting prowess despite not clinching the title. The left-handed batter began his IPL career with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) before switching to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

The 44-year-old amassed 3163 runs in 84 matches for the RCB franchise, at an impressive average of 43.33 and a strike rate of 152.73. During his tenure, Gayle notched up five centuries and 19 fifties. His last IPL appearance was with the Punjab Kings in the 2021 season.

Chris Gayle will be next seen in action as a commentator during the IPL 2024, which is slated to begin with a match between RCB and CSK on Friday, March 22. JioCinema, the host broadcaster, recently unveiled a stellar lineup of expert commentators for the tournament.

English Commentary: Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Shane Watson, Eoin Morgan, Brett Lee, Mike Hesson, Anil Kumble, Robin Uthappa, Graeme Smith, Scott Styris, Sanjana Ganesan, Suhail Chandhok

Hindi Commentary: Zaheer Khan, Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel, RP Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Aakash Chopra, Nikhil Chopra, Saba Karim, Anant Tyagi, Ridhima Pathak

Also read: “They couldn’t afford Universe Boss” – Chris Gayle on not attending Anant Ambani, Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding party