'You Don't Have to Field Anymore': Virat Kohli Asks Chris Gayle to Make His IPL Comeback

Royal Challengers Bengaluru had a special guest in their dressing room following their memorable win over Chennai Super Kings that sealed their spot in the IPL 2024 playoffs last weekend. RCB legend Chris Gayle was in attendance for the contest at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium as he watched his former IPL franchise win a thriller to complete a stunning turnaround.

After the match, as RCB players were cooling down in the locker room, Gayle paid them a visit, congratulating them for recovering from six defeats in a row to a top-four finish in the IPL 2024 league stage.

Virat Kohli, with whom Gayle forged a formidable partnership for RCB during his playing days, seemed quite happy meeting the IPL icon.

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And Kohli quipped that since Impact Player rule has been introduced by the IPL, perhaps it’s time that Gayle makes his competitive return.

“Kaka, come back next year. Impact player is on now. You don’t have to field anymore. It’s designed for you,” a beaming Kohli said in a clip shared by RCB on their social media handles.

Kohli quite enthusiastically bragged to Gayle about him hitting 37 sixes in IPL 2024, the most by any batter (before Abhishek Sharma of Sunrisers Hyderabad overtook him on Sunday evening taking his tally to 41 for the season).

“Maximum sixes this season!” Kohli could be heard telling Gayle who has struck the most sixes in the history of IPL – 357 from 141 innings.

A surprised Gayle shot back, “How much?”

“37!” responded Kohli.

During his IPL career, Gayle represented Kolkata Knight Riders, RCB and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). He scored 4965 runs at an average of 39.72 and a strike-rate of 148.96 including six centuries and 31 half-centuries.