IPL 2020: “People only talk about his big-hitting, but he is a smart and clever guy too,” Tendulkar lauds Gayle’s new approach

IPL 2020: “People only talk about his big-hitting, but he is a smart and clever guy too,” Tendulkar lauds Gayle’s new approach

Chris Gayle and Sachin Tendulkar

Chris Gayle and Sachin Tendulkar
Chris Gayle and Sachin Tendulkar

The first name that comes up when one thinks of ‘power hitters’ is Chris Gayle. There are many big names in the business like Keiron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, MS Dhoni. But what sets Gayle aside his the batting position. The “Universe Boss” unsettles the bowlers from the word go and that is why Gayle had as many as 105 fifties in his T20 career.

It won’t be wrong to say that the big fella has almost every record in T20 cricket to his name.

Gayle is a smart guy: Sachin

Chris Gayle super over
Chris Gayle

However, it is not his hitting ability that has impressed batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar. It is his smart approach that has amazed Tendulkar. The former Indian opener points out that when he takes time to settle in the middle, it makes him even more lethal. This new approach from Gayle has yielded great results for him lately.

“When it comes to Gayle, people only talk about his big-hitting that everyone knows. Many guys don’t know one thing that Gayle is a very very smart player. He is a big-hitter no doubt, but he is a smart player and a clever guy,” Tendulkar said in a video uploaded on his social media.

“When he finds (a bowler) threatening, who could get him out, he is prepared to play even sometimes an over where an odd single is scored. Then he will target one or two bowlers. The other day, he targeted Tushar Deshpande and scored 26 runs off his over. So Gayle is a smart player. So, don’t think Gayle is going to go out at every ball, he doesn’t do that. He understands the surface, he reads the pace and the bounce of the surface and what the bowler is good at and when he realizes there is a bowler whom he can target, he goes all out after them and that would be the strategy throughout the tournament because that is what I have noticed throughout. He is a smart guy,” Tendulkar added.

Related: IPL 2020: ‘Sitting out pinched him,’ BCCI President Sourav Ganguly says about Chris Gayle

Further, Tendulkar adds that the energy Gayle brings to the side has a positive impact, especially in a tournament as intense as the IPL. It seems like he is spot on with the observation, for KXIP were on a five-game losing streak but since his addition, their fortunes have turned. Punjab is now on a four-game winning streak and are closing in on a playoff spot.

“Well, he has brought a lot of energy in the team and there are certain players with the way they play, their style, the statement they make with the hard-hitting shots. It has a positive impact on the team and that is exactly what has happened. Although I know KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal have been batting well. Nicholas Pooran is another dangerous guy and the addition of Chris Gayle makes a dangerous batting line-up,” Tendulkar said.

“So, it’s not over yet. You never know, in this format, you only need the momentum to take you forward and Gayle has managed to do that for the team and with the other guys in the team, it’s not over yet for Kings XI Punjab. The energy that the dressing room brings after the victories, three back to back victories is infectious,” he added.

Also Read: IPL 2020 KXIP vs SRH: Kings XI Punjab defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 12 runs in a low scoring thriller