NEW DELHI – With 252 runs in four matches this season for Kings XIPunjab, Chris Gayle has rediscovered the form that made him such a forcefor Royal Challengers Bangalore over the years, before he was released bythe franchise ahead of the 2018 IPL, reported *Cricinfo.link>*

Gayle, however, revealed he’d been told RCB would retain him, only to nothear from the franchise again. “I was their biggest draw. It wasdisappointing from that end, because they had called me. They wanted me inthe team and I was told that I will be retained,” Gayle told *The Times ofIndia*. “But they never called back after that. So that gave me theimpression that they didn’t want me, and it’s fine.

RCB let Gayle go after he scored only 200 runs at a strike rateof 122.69 in nine innings in the 2017 IPL, but between then and now thebatsman had found T20 form.

In the 2017 CPL, Gayle was the highest scorer for St Kitts and NevisPatriots. He bettered that in the BPL, where he topped the tournament runcharts by a distance and scored 146 not out with 18 sixes in the final.

“I think I had a wonderful CPL and BPL – where I scored two centuries formy side Rangpur Riders. The stats don’t lie: 21 centuries, most number ofsixes. If that doesn’t put a stamp on brand Chris Gayle, I don’t know whatwill.”

Gayle nearly didn’t make it to this IPL entirely. Having gone unsold whenhis name came up for bidding the first time during the player auction inJanuary, he was eventually bought at base price by Kings XI towards the endof the auction’s second day.

“I’ll be honest in admitting that it was very surprising for me to not getpicked by any team,” Gayle said. “I don’t know what went behind closeddoors, but I also understand that these things happen,” he said. “It’s justthe way it is. But it’s fine, I’ve moved on from it. Like I said, it’s agreat opportunity to be playing for King XI Punjab, and so far I’ve had agreat time. Perhaps it was supposed to happen, you know. King Gayle:destined to be playing for Kings XI Punjab.”

After finally being picked at the auction, Gayle did not have a smoothstart to the season either: he was benched for Kings XI’s first two games.However, after overseas batsmen Aaron Finch and David Miller had poorstarts themselves, Gayle was given a go at the top of the order. Hescored a 33-ball 63 against Chennai Super Kings and then followed up with ahundred and another half-century, forming a prolific opening partnershipwith KL Rahul, another player RCB let go.

“Even though I was selected in the very last round of the auction, I wasn’treally worried about it,” Gayle said. “At some stage, you are going to walkaway from the IPL and other forms of cricket. This is how I’ve always been:living in the present. But, given the sense that I was picked up andplaying for a new franchise, it was very pleasing. And the way I haveplayed in the first three games, I think it has been fantastic. I’m veryhappy with where I’m at.”