IPL 2021: Twitter Shocked As Punjab Kings Leave Out Chris Gayle From Playing XI On His Birthday

Fans were shocked after Universe Boss Chris Gayle was left out from the Punjab Kings playing XI on his 42nd birthday. Notably, instead of Universe Boss, Punjab Kings have included Aiden Markram as their 4th overseas player in the team.

The 32nd match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 between Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals ( RR) and KL Rahul-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) finally began at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, September 21.

Chris Gayle has been one of the most successful batsman in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Also, he was having a great run with the Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the last few years. However, to everybody’s surprise, he was not included in playing XI in the game against RR.

So far Chris Gayle has smashed 4950 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at an outstanding average of 40.24 and strike rate of 149.45. Also, he has bagged as many as 6 centuries and 31 fifties in the cash-rich league.

Here is how Twitterati reacted to Chris Gayle missing out on playing XI

No Chris Gayle on his birthday in #IPL2021.

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 21, 2021

Chris Gayle is not playing on his birthday.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 21, 2021

Chris Gayle picked by PBKS to use his fanbase. Shame.

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) September 21, 2021

Enough is enough??, Not playing Chris Gayle is the worst decision taken by you guys @PunjabKingsIPL
That's why you will never win, you will always remain a less successful franchise?? because of your tactics and choices? Chris Gayle should have opened today!!?#PBKSvRR #IPL2021

— The Devil (@TheDevi76720832) September 21, 2021

Chris Gayle to #PBKS Team management , after being left out of the playing XI on his birthday : #PBKSvRR pic.twitter.com/pHgF89FEjz

— Rohit (@dBigDangTheory) September 21, 2021

Might have niggle, age, anything… But the big question is Ravi Bishnoi… This boy did everything for them last year.. And in 1st leg also he wasn't picked

— Royal Hindustani (@Rudra2812) September 21, 2021

#HappyBirthdayChrisGayle universe boss @henrygayle. Will miss your power hitting. Nevertheless, expecting a good game.#PBKSvRR #PBKS

— राधेय ? (@iamradhey_) September 21, 2021

I don't understand the reason why you guys keep doing this to Chris Gayle?? Put some respect on his name atleast, his stats against RR are brilliant and he should have opened today on his birthday but no you had to ruin everything?????? @PunjabKingsIPL @WasimJaffer14 #IPL2021

— The Devil (@TheDevi76720832) September 21, 2021

Birthday wishes can be painful
Somebody posted his Masterclass 175 and I'm in the past right now ?
Hbd @henrygayle ? pic.twitter.com/anb08nMmeN

— ‎ً (@ijeevank) September 21, 2021

Kumble resting Gayle on his birthday to get him fired up for the forthcoming matches.

No IIMs or private Management schools will teach you this approach.

— jeRsey (@brahma_bull_) September 21, 2021

Chris Gayle was dropped on his birthday ☹️ pic.twitter.com/h6qOX5cYBr

— baqi (@baqicricketer) September 21, 2021

Chris Gayle didn't make his place on his Birthday

— ♏?️Nℹ️ (@leximani10) September 21, 2021

Worst decision to bench chris gayle by #PBKS ? on his birthday ?

— Pooja ?|MI?| (@khot_pooja) September 21, 2021

Chris gayle is not playing ?..

Wtf pic.twitter.com/gRzNsjpg2L

— ☀️ (@SurajBatham10) September 21, 2021

"You're leaving out a stellar player on his birthday. Chris Gayle has dominated everywhere and dropping him today makes absolute no sense. Even if the 4 overseas of their wins them the game, the fact will remain the same". – Sunil Gavaskar.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 21, 2021

Chris Gayle picked by PBKS to use his fanbase. Shame.

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) September 21, 2021

The main reason Chris Gayle isn’t playing on his birthday is because Rahkeem Cornwall is hosting a surprise birthday party ? #IPL2021 #PBKSvRR pic.twitter.com/EP3tl72Gja

— James (@Surreycricfan) September 21, 2021

#PBKSvRR
Miller and Gayle sitting in the dugout pic.twitter.com/iurvbVrnYg

— Savage (@CutestFunniest) September 21, 2021

It always takes two or three matches for punjab to realise they have to play Chris Gayle.

— Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) September 21, 2021

How RCB celebrated Gayle How Punjab celebrated pic.twitter.com/fgQetsnDXZ

— r/RCB  (@rcb_reddit) September 21, 2021

“Unfortunately Chris Gayle misses out”: Chris Gayle

KL Rahul-led Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to field first. Also during the toss, KL Rahul informed that they have benched Gayle and included Aiden because he was in good form in the recent series against Sri Lanka.

” We’ll bowl first. It’s a no brainer, a fresh wicket with grass on. We don’t know how it will play and I prefer chasing. I was just telling a few people in the dressing room that it just felt like yesterday that we were playing IPL 2020. We have a lot that we’ve learnt from last year. We are all professionals and we have tried hard in the heat to prefer ourselves. Pooran, Markram, Rashid and Allen are our overseas players. Unfortunately, Chris Gayle misses out and Aiden has been in good form coming into our setup from Sri Lanka.”

PBKS Playing XI:

KL Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Fabian Allen, Adil Rashid, Harpreet Brar, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Porel

RR Playing XI:

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Evin Lewis, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Liam Livingstone, Mahipal Lomror, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Chris Morris, Mustafizur Rahman, Chetan Sakariya, Kartik Tyagi

Also Read: With Chris Morris In Our Side, I Feel That Happy Days Are Ahead Of Us: Sanju Samson