Chinnaswamy stampede -- Gayle mauls KXIP bowling attack
On this day in 2015, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore witnessed an innings that redefined the meaning of explosive batting. Chris Gayle, the "Universe Boss," unleashed a hurricane on the Kings XI Punjab bowlers and fielders, leaving them utterly bewildered. It was a knock for the ages—a night etched in the memory of every cricket fan present at the stadium.
The early signs weren't ominous for KXIP. The first over from Sandeep Sharma yielded just a single run. But beneath the calm exterior, the Gayle storm was brewing. The second over, bowled by Mitchell Johnson, became the catalyst. A flurry of boundaries rained down, with Johnson conceding a whopping 20 runs—his most expensive T20 over ever. This was a statement of intent; a warning shot that KXIP tragically failed to heed.
Gayle's knock was a masterclass in controlled aggression. His footwork was minimal, yet every ball in his arc was dispatched with contempt. The highlight wasn't a monstrous six, but a back-foot punch off Sandeep Sharma that screamed to the long-off boundary—a testament to his exquisite timing. He wasn't just brute force; he was a sculptor of power, shaping the ball to his will.
Credit: @kaustats
Gayle on attacking mode
However, KXIP gifted Gayle lifelines that would prove incredibly costly. A dropped catch by George Bailey in the third over and another by Manan Vohra off Axar Patel's bowling could have changed the course of the match. But Lady Luck was firmly in Gayle's corner, and KXIP's fielding frailties came back to haunt them in a spectacular fashion.
From there, it was a one-man show. Gayle became the first overseas player to reach 3000 IPL runs, a staggering feat that solidified his status as a T20 legend. Half of those runs came at his beloved Chinnaswamy, the ground where he had carved his reputation as a destroyer of bowling attacks. His 14th T20 century, reached in just 46 balls, not only marked his dominance but also set the record for the fastest IPL hundred of the season. It was a whirlwind of power hitting, audacious strokeplay, and sheer brilliance.
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Gayle celebrating his 100
KXIP's chase was a mere formality—a procession towards inevitable defeat. Their innings lacked the spark, the belief, and the fight that were needed to even contemplate chasing down a mammoth total. Kings XI sleepwalked through their innings, losing half their side within the powerplay.
The bowling duo of S. Aravind and Mitchell Starc ran riot, exploiting the visitors' lack of technique and temperament. Seven batsmen were bowled, a stark reminder of the devastation caused by Gayle's whirlwind knock. Their dismissals were a mix of poor shot selection and some peach deliveries, but the shadow of Gayle's dominance loomed large over their entire batting effort.
Credit: @Top1OReview
Starc celebrating wicket with his mates
The final scoreline—RCB 226/3 vs. KXIP 88—painted a picture of complete dominance. It was RCB's biggest win in IPL history, a record that stands to this day. But more importantly, it was a night where Chris Gayle, the "Universe Boss," lived up to his name, leaving the entire cricketing world awestruck. His innings were a masterclass in power hitting, a celebration of audacious strokeplay, and a testament to his legendary status in the world of T20 cricket.
