Events inside the Sheikh Zayed Stadium during and after the T20 World Cup game against Australia suggested that the flamboyant Gayle has played his final game as he scored a nine-ball 15 on Saturday with a standing ovation from his teammates. had left for.
The Windies great was seen signing the camera and also distributed his cricketing gear to the fans in the stands after his team lost by eight wickets.
However, it was later revealed that he is only “semi-retired” now.
According to a report in T20worldcup.com, Gayle said before the game, “I am semi-retired. I am an away.”
After the match, speaking on ICC’s post-match Facebook Live show, Gayle clarified that he has not retired yet, but indicated that he is ready to sign out.
“I was just having some fun today. Whatever happened put it aside. I was in the bus stand chatting with the fans and just having some fun because it was going to be my last World Cup game. ”
Asked for clarification, Gayle laughed: “I would love to play another World Cup. But I don’t think they will allow me.”
“It’s been a phenomenal career. I didn’t announce any retirement, but they actually gave me a game in Jamaica so I could go in front of my home audience, then I could say ‘Hey guys, too- thanks a lot.’
“Let’s see. If not, I’ll announce it at long last and then I’ll join DJ Bravo in the backend and say thank you to everyone but I can’t say that yet.”
42-year-old Gayle also out Michelle Marshaw And on his way back he celebrated by jumping on the Aussie.
Gayle wins in his cameo Pat Cummins Scored 15 runs on the first ball of the third over with a six, but dragged the next ball to his stumps.
As his West Indies teammates gave a standing ovation from the boundary, Gayle waved his bat at all corners of the field as he left the pitch.
It was a ball after hitting his 1045th six in T20 cricket. Very few players have had a greater impact on T20 cricket than Christopher Henry Gayle.
Gayle and Bravo were also given guard of honor at the end of the game and speculation arose that both had retired only when Bravo publicly announced that he would retire after Saturday’s game.
commentator Ian Bishop On Air said, “Everything points to the last time we will see Gayle in West Indies colors.
Former India star VVS Laxman heaped praise on Gayle calling him the greatest T20 player.
Gayle, who made his West Indies debut in 1999, was instrumental in two World Cup successes and said he was thrilled to share his last match with his longtime teammate Bravo.
A two-time T20 World Cup winning superstar, Gayle has 1899 runs in 79 T20Is. He averaged 28.11 and 137.31.
Gayle’s tally includes two centuries and 14 half-centuries. He also took 20 wickets in the shortest format. A regular opener, Gayle often batted at No. 3 in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup.
In his T20 career, Gayle scored a total of 14,321 runs in 445 innings, including 22 centuries and a world record score of 175 off just 66 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2013 IPL season.
Gayle has not played a Test match since 2014, while his last ODI appearance came in 2019. An all-format legend, Gayle has 7214 runs in 103 Tests and 10480 runs in 301 ODIs. He is also the former captain of West Indies.
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