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Chris Gayle leaves IPL to stay fresh for T20 World Cup

The seventh edition of the ICC T20 World Cup is set to begin this month. Universal boss Chris Gayle will represent the West Indies, the reigning champions and the most successful team in the format. Before that, he left the IPL to strengthen himself mentally.

Gayle is in the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Punjab Kings. There is not much rhythm in the bat. His lack of form is a cause for concern for the West Indies.

Gayle may have thought that rest can give   mentally refresh himself ahead of the T20 World Cup next month. And so he has left the biological safety zone of the IPL. Gayle said that he left the IPL due to the fatigue of the bio-safety belt or bio-bubble.

“Over the last few months, I have been a part of the CWI bubble, CPL bubble followed by the IPL bubble, and I wish to mentally recharge and refresh myself,” Gayle said in a statement. “I want to refocus on helping the West Indies in the T20 World Cup and would like to take a break in Dubai. My thanks to the Punjab Kings for giving me the time off. My wishes and hopes are with the squad always. All the very best for the games coming up.”

Gayle had indicated that he was feeling bubble fatigue in a brief chat during the Kings’ last match against Mumbai Indians on Tuesday. “It’s tough. I am going mental,” Gayle said to Danny Morrison on air when asked how he was coping with having shifted from the CPL bubble to the IPL bubble. “It’s crazy. It’s taking a toll. It’s taking a toll. It’s tough. It’s tough. It’s tough. But we will like to try and battle through it. Hopefully things can actually ease a bit down the line for cricketers. I am sure I am not the only one feeling this. The rest of the guys, I am sure, are feeling it as well. We will try and cope with it and see what happens.”

Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, player withdrawals due to bubble fatigue have been a feature in many tournaments and series across the world. Several of the withdrawals have had less to do with the fear of contracting Covid-19 and more with the demands of jumping from one stringent bubble to the other, with restricted movement and a life confined to hotels.

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