The Universe Boss is never nervous, Chris Gayle said when he was asked how he felt as Kings XI Punjab needed 2 Super Overs against Mumbai Indians to clinch 2 points and stay in the hunt for IPL 2020 playoffs. Well, at least from the outside, it looked like Gayle was, as usual, relaxed, as he went to bat with Mayank Agarwal in the historic 2nd Super OVer in Dubai on Sunday.
With 12 needed for a win, Chris Gayle smashed Trent Boult into the long-on stands as Kings XI Punjab began their chase in the 2ns super over on a high. The West Indies great, who was benched in the first half of IPL 2020, used all his experience and got away the crucial big hit as early as the first ball.
After Gayle got a single, Mayank Agarwal did the rest by hitting two boundaries and taking the team past the finish line. Both Gayle and Mayank didn’t bat in the first Super Over as KL Rahul and Nicholas Pooran got out and just made 5 runs before Mohammed Shami bowled a yorker-filled over to force the 2nd Super Over.
Gayle said he was not nervous even as 2 Super Overs were played but was disappointed that his opening partner Mayank Agarwal asked him if he should be taking the strike in the 2nd Super Over.
“I wasn’t nervous, I was a bit more angry and upset to see ourselves get to this position. Like I said, it’s a game of cricket and these things happen,” Gayle told Mayank in a fun interaction for IPL.
“When we were going to bat, I was upset with you for asking who was going to face the first ball. I was like ‘Mayank, you really asking that question?’. It’s the boss who has to face the first ball.
“I was backing myself to face the first ball. You see, I wanted it. You got to step in and get the first ball out for 6 runs,” Gayle said.
Meanwhile, Chris Gayle also said Mohammed Shami deserved the Man of the Match award for nailing yorkers against Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock in the first Super Over. Shami defended just 5 runs after which Chris Jordan took up the responsibility of bowling the 2nd Super Over for KXIP.
Jordan did well to keep the likes of Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard away from causing a lot of damage, giving away just 11 runs.
“For me, Shami is the Man of the Match. To defend six runs against Rohit and Quinny (de Kock), that’s fantastic, that’s a great job. I have faced him in the nets quite often, I know he can nail those yorkers. Trust me, you nail them well, today you came and delivered. You gave us a second chance.
