The third ODI against India was expected to be Chris Gayle’s final international appearance for West Indies but the 39-year-old has now confirmed that he won’t be signing off just yet.
In a video posted on the West Indies cricket board’s official Twitter account, Gayle is asked if he’s retiring from ODIs and his reply was in the negative.
‘I didn’t announce any retirement. Yeah, I am (still going to play for West Indies) until any further notice,’ says the man who was playing his 301st ODI on Wednesday (Aug 14).
Though West Indies lost the ODI series to India on Wednesday, Chris Gayle was at his vintage best during his innings of 72 off 41 balls.
In a rain-curtailed match, Gayle and opening partner Evin Lewis started slow but after the fourth over, they both went after Bhuvneshwar, Mohammed Shami and Khaleel Ahmed to the point that the most economical over between the sixth and 10th was the seventh which produced 14 runs.
West Indies raced to 114/0 in 10 overs. Lewis and Gayle struck a combined 8 sixes in this period, which is the most ever in an ODI batting first.
Gayle was wearing the jersey number 301 as a nod towards the number of ODIs he has played.
While walking back to the pavilion after being caught by Virat Kohli, Gayle was congratulated by the Indian players and given a standing ovation by the crowd that was under the impression that this was his final international outing.
During the 2019 World Cup in England, Gayle had announced that he would be retiring from international cricket at the end of the Test series against India.
However, with the selectors electing to leave him out of the 15-man squad, Wednesday was expected to be Gayle’s final international outing.
