RCB’s failure to win the IPL trophy has been a mystery, with many of the team’s players feeling overlooked and unrecognized compared to superstars such as Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Shane Watson. Gayle believes the majority of the focus was on just three players during his time with the franchise – himself, Virat Kohli, and de Villiers. He went on to explain that this might be an integral factor as to why they have yet to win the title.
“Sometimes, being one of the main players, being the main man of the franchise, I am always in my own zone, pretty much. What I understand when it comes from an RCB point of view is that a lot of players felt left out. A lot of players did not feel like they were a part of the franchise.”
He further added:
“It was like only three players were getting all the attention – myself, Virat, and AB. A lot of players, pretty much mentally, they were nowhere within the team. So that’s always going to be a challenge to win a title.”
Gayle was signed by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the middle of the 2011 Indian Premier League season to take the spot left vacant by Dirk Nannes. From the moment he joined RCB, his IPL career skyrocketed, as he quickly established himself as a key member of the franchise’s team throughout his stay.
Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers to be inducted into RCB’s Hall of Fame
Fans across Bengaluru are getting more and more excited as the 16th season of the IPL draws ever closer. To honor two of their beloved players – Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers – RCB plans to retire their jersey numbers and induct them into their prestigious Hall of Fame. On March 26th, RCB Unbox will be held at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, with celebrity appearances from Sonu Nigam and Jason Derulo.
Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers are undoubtedly two of the most beloved and praised overseas players in the Indian Premier League. Together, they accumulated over 10,000 runs with an average of 40 and an incredible strike rate of 150. Their careers also saw them hit nine centuries and 608 sixes, thus making them two of the greatest match-winners in the history of the Indian Premier League.