The IPL is the type of tournament in which no cricketer is safe in Game XI, regardless of his reputation. How else can you justify the fact that people like Imran Tahir, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell McClenaghan, and even Mitchell Santner have yet to play a game at IPL 2020?
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Heck, even a good all-rounder like James Neesham has had limited opportunities, while fans were a bit surprised when Kings XI Punjab had Chris Gayle, considered by many the greatest T20 player of all time, sit in first place. seven IPL games this year, all of which KXIP lost save one. Gayle was supposed to play KXIP’s fifth game, against Sunrisers Hyderabad, but his wait was prolonged after being struck by a stomach virus. During his stay at the hospital, Gayle posted a photo of him relaxing in the hospital bed.
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BCCI President Sourav Ganguly chimed in on how Gayle must have felt about not participating in those many tournament games in the first place. Gayle, who had not played a match since January this year, finally played her first 2020 IPL match against RCB, scoring half a century. KXIP has won every game Gayle has played for them this year and while the heavy hitter may have seemed happy and laid back, Ganguly acknowledges that it hurt Gayle that he was no longer an automatic pick on the team.
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“We all think Chris Gayle is still laughing and wandering around, but it pinched him that he was forced to sit down. These are the things to see and learn. IPL is too much competition, ”Ganguly said while speaking to Star Sports.
Former Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ganguly was in awe of individual brilliance in this edition of IPL. Refraining from choosing a highlight, Ganguly was impressed by the way some of the players have performed this year.
“I think the whole tournament is incredible. I can’t pick a moment from that. KL Rahul’s hitting, Shikhar Dhawan’s hitting, some of the fielding, Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling, the way Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada have played, the way Mohammad Shami has played. Mayank Agarwal is hitting in this format, ”he said.
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