“I was at a nightclub in Jamaica” - Chris Gayle reveals a call from RCB in 2011 after going unsold in mega auction

Former Caribbean batting legend and IPL great Chris Gayle made an interesting revelation, stating that he was approached by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2011 when he was at a nightclub in Jamaica.

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It’s important to note that Gayle’s IPL journey was initiated in 2009 with the Kolkata Knight Riders. However, after representing the KKR franchise for two seasons, he was released and went unsold in the IPL 2011 Mega Auction.

However, he was later selected as a replacement player by the RCB after an injury ruled Dirk Nannes out for the season. It was then, the Bengaluru franchise called Gayle to join the franchise.

"2011, when I got a call, I was at a nightclub in Jamaica. Whatever happened with the breakdown with West Indies Cricket, where I was not even selected for a home series against Pakistan. Coming from a World Cup loss and then had an injury too. I was very disappointed. So, long story short, I was at a nightclub and that time, I wasn't playing any cricket,” Gayle said on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast.

"I got a call. It was Vijay Mallya and Anil Kumble. They asked me if I was fit. I was like, 'Is this for real?' I said, "Yes, I am fit". They said, 'If you're fit, what we need you to do is go to the embassy tomorrow and get the visa.' But I said tomorrow is Saturday. They said, 'Don't worry about that. Just turn up.' I turned up next day, got my visa and then took my flight and you know, Easter started from that time," he added.

In IPL 2011, Gayle played a total of 12 games, accumulating 608 runs at an average of 67.55 and a strike rate of 183.13 with two centuries and three fifties, emerging as the leading run-scorer for the season, and RCB emerged as the runners-up.

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