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Self-proclaimed ‘Universe Boss’ aka Chris Gayle on May 18 cheered his former franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) from the stands in the clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). After RCB registered a 27-run win, Gayle celebrated with the players in the dressing room. His former teammate Virat Kohli signed a jersey and also asked the Caribbean big-hitter to make a comeback in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as an impact player next season.
"Kaka, come back next year, impact player is on now. You don't have to field anymore. It's designed for you," Kohli said in a video posted by RCB on their social media.
Due to the impact player rule, many veteran players have played a crucial role for their respective franchises. The franchises have even used players who have had injuries of late as just batters in the run chase. Mumbai Indians (MI) did it with former skipper Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav. Similarly, Rajasthan Royals (RR) used Jos Buttler as their impact player on a few occasions.
However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah and treasurer Arun Dhumal have said that the impact player will be talked about ahead of the next edition of the IPL.
Gayle lauds Kohli for ‘maximums’
During their conversation, Gayle also talked about the number of sixes Kohli has hit in the season already. He is the second-highest six-hitter in the season. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opener Abhishek Sharma is on top with 41 sixes followed by Kohli with 37 maximums.
Gayle’s career at RCB
Gayle played for RCB from 2011 to 2017. The Caribbean opener scored 3,420 runs from 90 innings at an average of 43.29 including five centuries and 21 half-centuries. His strike rate was 154.40. The left-handed batter is RCB's third-highest run-scorer. His unbeaten 175 is still the highest individual score in the history of IPL and T20 cricket.
The 44-year-old is also the highest run-scorer in the history of the format. The Jamaica-born batter has 14,562 runs including 22 centuries in T20s.
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