IPL Match 5: KKR vs RCB: Gamechanger - Chris Gayle

RCB’s Chris Gayle in action during his Man-of-the-Match performance against KKR

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) opener Chris Gayle is our choice for the ‘Gamechanger of the Match’ for his sensational innings that got Bangalore their first win of the tournament against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Gayle almost stayed till the end, but got run out in the 19^th over. However, by that time, the match was already out of Kolkata’s hands and the team wearing red sealed the win. The Jamaican scored 96 runs off 56 balls which were laced with 7 fours and as many sixes.

The West Indian started slowly according to his standards, by reaching 33 runs off 27 balls as wickets kept tumbling at the other end. He even got a lifeline off the next ball he faced, when Morne Morkel dropped a difficult chance when Gayle tried to hit Yusuf Pathan for a maximum.

From then, Gayle played like a man possessed and smashed the bowlers all over the park. He even took some quick singles and doubles. Batting on 63, he was dropped once more by Morkel with Yusuf the bowler again. His wicket finally fell when some superb fielding by Manish Pandey stopped a six and ran out Gayle, who was sprinting for a second run.

The hard-hitting batsman came into the IPL with a chronic back injury, having given West Indies’ series against England, which starts on 13^th April, a miss. Having recently become the 4^th man to score a double century in ODIs, RCB would be hoping that the 34-year-old can lead them to the elusive IPL title.

Gayle has been one of the star performers in IPL history, having notched up 2804 runs at an astonishing average of 48.34. The Jamaican scores runs at a brisk pace as he has a strike rate of a little over 155 in the tournament’s history. He has the highest individual score in the tournament as well, when he smashed 175 runs off just 66 balls against a hapless Pune Warriors India bowling attack in the 2013 season.

Having represented defending champions KKR from 2008-2010, Gayle has been playing for the Vijay Mallya-owned side ever since and has proved to be a valuable asset for them. Known for his hard-hitting and explosive batting, the opener provides an option in the bowling department with his off spin. Despite possessing a bulky frame, he is no slack in the field either.

For RCB to win their first IPL title, they would have to make sure Chris Gayle is in form and stays injury free.