West Indies batting legend Chris Gayle has revealed the dramatic circumstances that paved the way for his entry into Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) during the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Speaking on a podcast, Gayle recounted being at a nightclub in Jamaica when he received a call from Vijay Mallya and Anil Kumble asking about his fitness.
At the time, Gayle was sidelined after West Indies’ World Cup loss, struggling with injury, and had not been picked for a home series against Pakistan.
“I was at a nightclub, not even playing cricket. They said, ‘If you’re fit, go to the embassy tomorrow and get the visa.’ I thought it was impossible since it was a Saturday, but it worked out. That’s how my RCB journey began,” Gayle recalled.
Gayle went on to play 149 IPL matches, with his explosive stint at RCB (2011–2017) including the iconic 175* against Kochi Tuskers in 2013 which is still the highest individual score in IPL history.
Gayle was also spotted celebrating with the RCB side as the team won their first ever trophy in 2025 by defeating PBKS.
.){kind=link}