IPL 2018: Match 18, Player Battles – Chris Gayle vs Sunil Narine

“Virender Sehwag saved the IPL by picking me.” These were the likes Chris Gayle said after scoring the first century of the IPL 2018. The legend of the T20 format was on the verge of going unsold in the auctions before Kings XI Punjab picked at his base price of 2 crores. He was the last player to be sold at this year’s auction. Gayle didn’t let the franchise’s trust on his credentials go in vain as he produced man of the match performances in the two games he played in the season so far.

The left-hander scored 63 in just 33 balls against CSK with seven fours and four sixes. If the quality of CSK’s bowling was in question for the critics, Gayle proved himself with a bigger against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The team with the best bowling line-up in the tournament didn’t concede a 150+ total in the first three matches they played. Gayle played out the threat of Bhuvneshwar Kumar safely and saw Rashid Khan falter against him as he hit four sixes in as many balls in an over off the leg-spinner.

Kings XI will now face Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens where Gayle has an exceptional record and the ground that witnessed the start of Gayle era. The big man made his debut for RCB in 2011 at the same venue against his former team KKR. His struck an unbeaten 55-ball 102 with ten fours and seven sixes to take RCB towards an easy win. He scored 86 off 56 balls with seven fours and six sixes in a losing cause in 2012. Gayle took RCB over the line in 2015 with a brilliant 96-run knock which was KKR’s only defeat in 13 home matches.

Chris Gayle vs Sunil Narine:

In the six IPL innings against the home team, Chris Gayle scored 346 runs at an average of 69.2. KXIP will expect him to continue his form but can only happen if he can get through Sunil Narine. The off-spinner went for a record 48 runs in the previous game and will look to bounce back strong at home. Narine dismissed Gayle on three occasions in the IPL for 40 runs. Gayle managed to score at an S/R of 88.89 against Narine with only five boundaries in 45 deliveries.