Chris Gayle leaves IPL 2021 bio-bubble to 'mentally recharge' ahead of T20 World Cup

Punjab Kings (PBKS) batsman Chris Gayle has left the Indian Premier League (IPL) bio-bubble to be fresh for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to get underway from October 17. Gayle has stated bubble fatigue as a reason as he has been moving from one bio-bubble after another over the last few months.

🚨 UPDATE 🚨

Chris Gayle will not be a part of the PBKS squad for the remainder of #IPL2021! #SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings pic.twitter.com/vHfyEeMOOJ

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) September 30, 2021

Defending champions West Indies kick start their T20 World Cup campaign on October 23 against England in Dubai.

"Over the last few months, I have been a part of the CWI bubble, CPL bubble followed by the IPL bubble, and I wish to mentally recharge and refresh myself. I want to refocus on helping the West Indies in the T20 World Cup and would like to take a break in Dubai," Gayle said in a statement.

He also thanked his IPL franchise Punjab Kings for giving him this break. "My thanks to the Punjab Kings for giving me the time off. My wishes and hopes are with the squad always. All the very best for the upcoming games," he added.

Gayle - a two-time T20 World Cup winner -  in his 10 matches for PBKS this season managed just 193 runs at 21.44. He is West Indies' leading run-scorer in the shortest format, slamming 1,854 runs at a strike-rate of 139.18.

He leaves PBKS in sixth place after the team managed to accumulate eight points from 11 matches so far.