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Chris Gayle and Shane Watson resolve differences ahead of IPL

Gayle and Watson buried their differences by posting this photo on social media

Australian all-rounder Shane Watson and West Indian big-hitting batsman Chris Gayle appear to have buried their long-running dispute before playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Royal Challengers Bangalore later this year.

The duo will be playing for the same team in IPL this season after Watson was picked up for Rs 9.5 crore by the Bangalore-based franchise, for whom the Caribbean Gayle plays.  

The two cricketers, who have been involved in a dispute that can be traced all the way back to 2009, posted a photo together on Twitter on January 9. 

Gayle said, “Who would have thought this would happen?" while posting the photo.

Previously Watson was labeled as “soft” by the West Indian after he vigorously celebrated Gayle’s wicket during a Test match in Perth in 2009. At that time, Gayle said, "Yeah, he's soft. He only looks big and strong but he's soft."

End of a long-running fight

The pair also exchanged few heavy words during the semi-finals of ICC World T20 in 2012 where Australia lost the match and West Indies went on to become champions.

Recently their dispute became clear again when the Australian weighed in on Gayle’s controversial interview with Channel 10’s Mel McLaughlin during the Big Bash League this summer.

He said that the Jamaican’s behavior which saw him being slapped with a $10,000 fine was hardly a surprise. He said, "I know Chris Gayle fairly well so that sort of thing is expected. I have played against Chris for a long time, since I started really, and that behaviour is fairly expected."

However On January 9, Watson expressed his sporting intentions as he posed for a photo with the man he’s expected to partner at the top of the order at the Royal Challengers Bangalore when this season’s IPL gets underway in April.

Watson praised Gayle by calling him the “new age Master Blaster” on Twitter when he retweeted Gayle’s post. He said, "Amazing how the world works, now teammates. Should be great fun batting the new age Master Blaster.”   

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