'I Was At A Nightclub In Jamaica...': Chris Gayle Reveals The Story Behind His RCB Callup

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-09-10 14:20:54 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-20 03:48:03

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Chris Gayle, the lionized batsman who terrorized bowlers on his way to becoming the greatest T20 exponent, has opened up on how he joined the IPL giants, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and the interesting story behind his debut.

The opening batsman, part-time off-spinner, and 'Universe Boss' superstar revealed how he had no prior knowledge of either the franchise or the man who would become his mentor, Vijay Mallya, before he joined the RCB squad for the inaugural Indian Premier League in 2008.

Recalling his spontaneous decision to participate in the league, Gayle told Wisden: "I was in a nightclub in Jamaica, and I got a call from Peter Bonney, who used to work with the Jamaica Cricket Association. He said, 'RCB are interested in you.' I asked, 'What's RCB?' He said, 'It's an IPL team in Bangalore, owned by Vijay Mallya.' I replied, 'Oh, ok.' And that's how it started."

The swashbuckling opener confessed he knew little about Indian cricket back then and had never met or heard of his future captain and bowling mentor Anil Kumble or his franchise owner, Mallya, who oversaw his transfer to RCB from Kolkata Knight Riders.

Gayle recalled how he agreed to join the team without negotiating any contract terms and signed what turned out to be the most lucrative deal of his life, purely on the belief that the man who founded Kingfisher beer would look after him.

And the rest, as they say, is history. Gayle went on to become one of the icons of the game, blasting sixes at will and electrifying audiences worldwide. His spell with RCB yielded plenty of fun and frolic on and off the field. Gayle scored the first century in IPL history and went on to represent RCB for seven seasons, racking up over 3,000 runs.

Ultimately, it was a nightclub anecdote and a spontaneous phone call that changed the course of IPL history and left Gayle with some of the most treasured memories of his career. Gayle's fearless approach quickly made him a fan favorite, and he went on to become one of the most iconic figures in the history of the tournament.

Go!