Picture Credit: X

Picture Credit: X

Former West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle, who is known for his T20 exploits, recently appeared in a podcast with Shubhankar Mishra. Often reckoned by the name ‘Universe Boss’, Gayle boasts of over 14500 runs under his belt and has featured in almost all franchise league tournaments across the world, including the Indian Premier League (IPL).

During his IPL stint, which began in 2009 until 2021, Gayle featured with three franchises, namely Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In 13 years of his presence in the IPL, he played around 142 matches, where he scored 4965 runs, etching several feats, the most talked being the record of most sixes.

I was disrespected at Kings XI Punjab: Chris Gayle reveals on Shubhankar Mishra podcast

Years after his last appearance came in 2021 in Punjab colours, Chris Gayle recently revealed some shocking stories behind his sudden departure, mid-way through the season. Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast, Gayle revealed, “Oh my IPL ended prematurely with Punjab. To be honest, I was disrespected at Kings XI Punjab.”

He further added, “I felt I wasn’t treated properly as a senior player who h ad done so much for the league and brought value to the franchise. Instead, they treated me like a kid. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was slipping into depression.” The veteran also revealed that mental peace was more important rather than money.

Further adding to the story, he went on to disclose that he the way the franchise was run, disappointed him beyond measures. “Your mental health is more important than money. I called Anil (Kumble) and told him I was leaving. After my last game against Mumbai, I thought, ‘This doesn’t make sense. I’ll do myself more damage by staying.’"