Gayle Force

When the Indian Premier League (IPL) started back in April, I couldn't wait to see which players were to join what teams. Exciting stuff, especially as each of the 10 team's buy players by bidding for them. Like an auction.

A staggering 15 players sold for more that $1,000,000, 3 of which were South Africans (Jaques Kallis, AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn). Gautam Gambhir was the most expensive player, selling for $2,400,000 to the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Bling Bling, Money ain't a thing!

Top players like Mahendra Singh Dohni, Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne were retained by their original franchises and therefore were not up for auction. It was great to see how the star studded teams lined up. But there was one question on my mind. Why didn't anyone buy Chris Gayle?

According to cricinfo.com, he wasn't considered by any of the franchises as he was to play for the West Indies in a series against Pakistan¹ during April & May, smack-bang during the IPL. Problem is, he wasn't selected by the West Indies, as they looked to blood new players. A ludicrous decision.

Their loss was the Royal Challengers Bangalore's gain. He joined them after 5 games for a nominal fee of $400,000. The rest as they say is history (I couldn't resist that line, similarly my title, pun's are lame but like I say, I couldn't resist).

The BFG

Chris Gayle can be referred to as a BFG, and not the kind you find in a Roald Dahl novel. No, I'm talking about a Big Fucking Guy. This giant of a man stands 6ft 3inches tall and makes the cricket bat he clasps in his paws look like a toothpick.

In his first innings for Bangalore he scored 102 not out off just 55 balls at a strike rate of 185. He is an intimidating figure to bowl to as Parameswaran of Kochi Tuskers discovered when he smacked him for 37 in one over.

Gayle has since scored 436 runs in 7 innings (4 less innings than any other batsmen) with an average of 87.20 at a strike rate of 202. He is currently second in the chase for the orange cap² and I wouldn't bet against him on getting it.

His record speaks for itself, no bowler in this years tournament has figured the BFG out yet and for the love of the game and the sake of more DLF maximums³, lets hope none of them do.

Are those human hands?

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¹No Pakistan players are allowed to play in the IPL due to the international sanctions imposed on them by the ICC after terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan tour bus in 2009.
²An orange cap is given to the batsmen with the most runs in the IPL. A purple cap is given to the bowler that takes the most wickets.
³ A DFL maximum is a sponsored term for a 6, commentators have to refer to all 6's by saying the sponsored companies name. 

SS.