West Indies explosive batsman Chris Gayle has been named for one-off T20 match against India in Jamaica on Sunday. He is the only one who scored 10,000 runs in the T20 format during the Indian Premier League season 10. His previous match for West Indies was the finals of World T20 2016 held in India.
Chris Gayle has scored the most runs in a T20 format for West Indies scoring 1519 runs in 50 matches at 35.32 at a strike rate of 145.49 with 2 centuries. Gayle has played for all over the world in T20 format and in all he has scored 10137 runs in 295 matches.
His ability to play big shots and put the bowler under pressure makes him dangerous batsman in T20 format. Lendl Simmons has been dropped from the T20 squad after poor performances in the T20 series against Afghanistan. During the T20 series, he scored 6, 17* and 15 in the three matches.
“We welcome Chris back to the T20 squad. He is the most prolific batsman in this format and will add value to our team at the top of the order,” Courtney Browne, Cricket West Indies” chairman of selectors, said. “He will get the chance to play on his home ground and against a top-quality Indian team.”
West Indies are currently the five-match ODI series against India. India is currently leading the series 2-1. The fifth match will be played at Sabina Park, Jamaica on 6th July which will be followed by one off T20 match on Sunday.
The team will be captained by Carlos Braithwaite. West Indies T20 team comprises of Sunil Narine, Marlon Samuels, Kieron Pollard, Evin Lewis, Samuel Badree, Ronsford Beaton, Jason Mohammed, Jerome Taylor, Kesrick Williams, and Chadwick Walton.
West Indies ODI and Test captain Jason Holder has been rested for the T20 match against India. Chris Gayle would love to leave an impact on the match with his big hitting against a strong Indian team. He was a part of the squad which won the World T20 2016 held in India and also in 2012 World T20. It will be the great treat for the fans to see Gayle and play T20 format.
Chris Gayle also has played 103 test matches scoring 7,109 runs with the best score of 333. He featured for West Indies in 269 ODI matches, with 9221 runs to his name with the best score of 215 with 22 centuries and 47 half centuries.
West Indies T20 squad : Carlos Brathwaite (capt), Samuel Badree, Ronsford Beaton, Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Roman Powell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton (wk), Kesrick Williams