IPL 2023 Auction: Chris Gayle on Mayank Agarwal – One of the greatest T20 players of all time Chris Gayle was left “disappointed” in the manner his former Punjab Kings got rid of its last year’s captain Mayank Agarwal, commenting that the franchise has a tendency to chop and change at “ridiculous levels”. Follow Indian Premier League 2023 LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Mayank, who had sacrificed his opening position to accommodate Jonny Bairstow at the top alongside Shikhar Dhawan midway into the IPL, was released by Punjab Kings ahead of the IPL auction.
IPL 2023 Auction: Former PBKS star Chris Gayle Slams Punjab Kings on Mayank Agarwal’s sacking, says ‘He was a fantastic team man’
Mayank, who had been a consistent performer for the team, couldn’t live up to the expectations last season as a batter scoring 196 runs in 13 games.Eventually, Punjab finished sixth for the fourth straight season highlighting their inconsistency. They are yet to win the IPL title as well, having reached the final only once in 2014.
Speaking to PTI, Gayle said Agarwal was not treated properly by the franchise and expects a big payday for him at the auction on Friday. “Mayank will definitely get picked. I would be very disappointed if he doesn’t. Because he is such an explosive player.
“He has probably hurt within himself at not being retained by Punjab after what he sacrificed for the franchise and to be treated like that is disappointing but I hope teams still believe in him and give him good money. He is a fantastic team man as well,” said Gayle in an interaction arranged by Jio Cinema ahead of IPL auctions.
Punjab is among the host of IPL teams the 43-year-old Gayle has played for. He has started with KKR while best years were with RCB and then also represented Punjab Kings. Gayle said an unsettled playing eleven has contributed to Punjab’s inconsistency over the years.
“They chop and change man, it is ridiculous. You keep chopping and changing, they never have a set eleven whether you win a match. Sometimes they would go with the same team but so often players don’t feel comfortable (with too much changes) “When they do get a chance and IPL is already pressure, so (with that sort of approach) you end putting more excessive pressure and with that you won’t see them flourishing within the game.”
IPL 2023 Auction: Former PBKS star Chris Gayle Slams Punjab Kings on Mayank Agarwal’s sacking, says ‘He was a fantastic team man’
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