Kohli to Chris: Impact Player Needed, See You Next Season?

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star batter had a pleasant reunion with the Universe Boss and franchise icon Chris Gayle, following their win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday. Later, Virat gifted his number 18 signed jersey to Gayle along with a special message for his former team member.

On Monday, RCB’s official Instagram account shared a video featuring Gayle mingling with RCB players, including Virat Kohli. During their chat, Virat humorously suggested that Gayle could return to the team as an ‘Impact Player’ next season. He said, “Come back next year, Impact player is on. You do not have to field anymore. It is designed for you.” Gayle, who holds the record for maximum sixes in a single IPL season with 59 sixes for RCB in 2012, inquired Virat about how many sixes he smashed this season. To this, Virat proudly replied, “37”.

After a horrid first half of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 which saw them lose seven out of the first eight games, RCB completed a fairytale turnaround with six successive wins and entered the playoffs by beating CSK on Saturday in front of their home fans in Bengaluru.

In 85 matches for RCB between 2011 and 2017, Gayle amassed 3,163 runs, averaging 43.33, with a strike rate exceeding 152. He notched up five centuries and 19 fifties, with his highest score being 175*. Gayle is also a member of RCB Hall of Fame, alongside AB de Villiers and Vinay Kumar.

RCB holds the fourth position with a record of seven wins and seven losses, accumulating 14 points. Meanwhile, CSK also with seven wins and seven losses, has dropped to fifth place due to a lower net run rate.