Follow UsWhen you talk about Chris Gayle in the Indian Premier League (IPL), you automatically associate him with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), for it was with RCB that he shattered records, achieved the highest peak by any batter in T20 history and elevated the status of the IPL single-handedly.
However, Gayle also had a semi-fruitful stint with the Punjab Kings (PBKS).
Bought for INR 2 crore in 2018, the Universe Boss went on to play 41 games for the franchise and scored 1,339 runs at an average of 36 and strike rate of 143. He even managed to score a ton, and played plenty of impactful knocks for the side.
However, four years after his last game for Punjab, Gayle has now made a shocking revelation, claiming that he felt disrespected and insulted at the franchise. According to the 45-year-old, the situation was so bad that he almost slipped into depression.
“Oh my IPL ended prematurely with Punjab. To be honest, I was disrespected at Kings XI Punjab. I felt I wasn’t treated properly as a senior player who had done so much for the league and brought value to the franchise. Instead, they treated me like a kid. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was slipping into depression," Gayle said on the Shubhankar Mishra podcast, reported News18.
“Your mental health is more important than money. I called Anil (Kumble) and told him I was leaving. At the time, we had the World Cup and were stuck in a bubble, which was destroying me mentally. After my last game against Mumbai, I thought, ‘This doesn’t make sense. I’ll do myself more damage by staying.’
“I broke down talking to Anil because I was really hurt. I was disappointed with him and the way the franchise was run. KL Rahul, the captain, even called me saying, ‘Chris, stay, you’ll play the next game.’ But I just said, ‘I wish you all the best,’ packed my bag, and walked out."
Gayle said that he’s still open to a potential comeback to Punjab Kings — in a coaching capacity — but insisted that he still holds some grudges.
“I was mistreated. I am available—if they want me, I’ll come. But yes, I do have grudges. Loyalty means a lot to me," Gayle said.
Earlier this year, the Universe Boss was in attendance for the IPL 2025 Final in Ahmedabad. RCB incidentally won the IPL title for the first time ever, and Gayle, post the team’s win, was seen lifting the trophy alongside Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.