Kings XI Punjab are set to receive a massive boost ahead of their next match in the IPL 2020, and that goes by the name of Chris Gayle, who has dropped a big hint that he will play his team’s next match, against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Thursday. Gayle, who is yet to play a game this year, was hit by a stomach bug due to which he had to spend a few days in the hospital. But the ‘Universe Boss’ is back and his return couldn’t come at a better time for a struggling KXIP.
“To all the fans out there, the wait is over. The Universe Boss is back. I know you all have been waiting for such a long time, the wait is over unless something dramatic happens to the Universe Boss again, which I hope not,” Gayle said in the video uploaded on KXIP’s Twitter handle.
Gayle was set to play against Sunrisers Hyderabad but couldn’t due to a stomach infection, KXIP head coach Anil Kumble had said last week. But now that the big-hitting West Indies opener is back in the reckoning, KXIP, who are at the bottom of the points-table, have hope.
With just one win from seven matches, one more defeat can eliminate KXIP from the tournament, but stranger things have happened in the IPL, and Gayle is confident that the team can win all the remaining seven matches and give themselves a shot at the playoffs.
“You know it is still possible. I know we are at the bottom of the table but it is still possible. Seven games to go and we believe we can win all seven, it is still possible. I urge each and every one of the guys to still have the self-belief, like I said the only way we can go is up, it is only up from here. So gonna do it and we can do it,” Gayle explained.
Gayle is likely to replace the out-of-form Glenn Maxwell in the line-up. With the Australia all-rounder scoring just 58 runs from seven matches, he is likely to set out, paving the way for Gayle’s return. “He (Gayle) is fine now and it is likely that he will be playing the game against RCB (on Thursday),” a team source told PTI.