IPL 2020: Virender Sehwag Wants KXIP To Draft Chris Gayle Against Royal Challengers Bangalore

Former Kings XI Punjab mentor Virender Sehwag calls for the franchise to draft Chris Gayle for their clash against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Sharjah on Thursday. If Chris Gayle manages to play, it would be his first match of IPL 2020 as Kings XI Punjab have not been able to accommodate him at the top. KXIP are in the eighth position of IPL 2020 points table and face a tough ask to qualify for the playoffs.

Chris Gayle has remained out of the playing eleven due to a settled opening combination while in the last 2-3 matches, the West Indian was in the hospital due to a stomach bug. KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal have flourished at the top order for KXIP with the former leading the run-scoring charts with 387 runs in seven innings while Mayank Agarwal is behind him with 337.

Chris Gayle is one of the cleanest strikers of the ball and is the ninth-highest run-getter in IPL 2020. His 4484 runs have come in 125 fixtures at 41.13 with six centuries and 28 half-centuries. The Jamaican’s unbeaten 175 is the highest individual score in IPL history, having done so against Pune Warriors in 2013. Hence, he will indeed fancy the short boundaries in Sharjah and clear with ease after getting in the groove. With 326 sixes, he has the most number of sixes in the cash-rich league.

“Note that Chris Gayle’s record against Bangalore is impeccable” : Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag pointed out that since Chris Gayle is back from the hospital, KXIP should bring him to the playing eleven. Sehwag mentioned that the West Indian averages 53.13 against RCB and a strike rate of 174.98, which his highly encouraging. The 41-year old believes that Gayle must open with Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul must come at number three to maintain the balance of the team.

“News is that Chris Gayle is back after chilling in the hospital. The youngsters weren’t able to make a dent, now bring Gayle on! Note that Gayle’s record against Bangalore is impeccable. An average of 54, and his strike rate is known to all bowlers. So let Gayle open with the Serious Man Mayank (Agarwal), and KL can come in at No.3 to maintain the balance of the team,” Sehwag told in his Youtube show.

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