Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Chris Gayle showed his class with a brilliantly made 77 from just 38 deliveries in the Indian Premier League [IPL] match against the Gujarat Lions in Rajkot on Tuesday.
Gayle’s innings, which included five fours and seven sixes, helped the Bengaluru-based franchise register a 21-run win and move away from the bottom of the table.
The West Indian opening batsman found a reliable ally in captain Virat Kohli and the two batsmen, who have historically enjoyed batting together, added 122 runs for the first wicket whichย was their 10th-century stand in the IPL.
Gayle also reached a special milestone during the knock as he became the first ever batsman to notch up 10,000 career runs in T20 cricket, a format he has dominated since its inception over a decade ago.
Unsurprisingly, the 37-year-old was named the Player of the Match.
SOCIAL CHATTER
Big Thank You to the fans for the love and support over the years! Many more entertainment to come! #10000CG #Champion #KingGayle ๐๐ฟ๐บ๐พ๐บ๐พ๐บ๐พ
— Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) April 18, 2017
Congratulations to @henrygayle on completing 10 thousand t20 runs ! Legend ๐ค๐ป๐๐ฝ and making @IPL the most entertaining cricket tournament
— yuvraj singh (@YUVSTRONG12) April 18, 2017
Massive congratulations to @henrygayle on 10000 T20runs. What a player he has been! @RCBTweets
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) April 18, 2017
Congrats @henrygayle on a pronominal achievement in reaching 10k t20 runs!! Still plenty left in the tank too big man!!
— Aaron Finch (@AaronFinch5) April 18, 2017
The @IPL is never quite the same without a Gayle/Kohli partnership @RCBTweets #bosh #GLvRCB #IPL
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) April 18, 2017
Who would have imagined that a player would score 10k in T20!! The boss of this game @henrygayle
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 18, 2017