IPL 2018: The dark horse players

#2 Chris Gayle

Punjab will expect Gayle to win them some crucial matches

Chris Gayle is amongst the best T20 players of the generation but IPL often has the ability to make even the best look like a normal player. He faced that kind of a situation in this year's IPL auction. He wasn't retained by the Bangalore side as they preferred the young Sarfaraz over him.

In this year's auction, he was rejected twice before Kings XI Punjab finally decided to pick him when his name was called for the third time. Gayle faced a similar situation in 2011 when he was not picked by any of the teams in that year's auction but was called in by the Bangalore side as a replacement for the injured Dirk Nannes. He was a revelation in that year's IPL scoring 2 centuries and 708 runs at a stupendous average of 68!

Gayle has the ability to demolish the opposition bowling with his aggressive attitude. He would be opening the batting for the Punjab team and Rahul would be his partner. Rahul would play aggressively and provide him with a cushion such that he could take his time to get into the game and then play the big game.

Gayle has to perform in this season to prolong his IPL career and knowing the fighter he is, one would expect him to repeat his 2011 performance for the Punjab team this year.