Get it on

Google Play

Download on the

App Store

Get it on

Google Play

Download on the

App Store

Home

IPL

News

Chris Gayle

How Lalit Modi Played a Role in Chris Gayle's IPL Records?

Sportsdunia Desk

Published - Apr 17, 2026, 10:52 AM

3 min

Add

As Preferred Source

The ex-chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Lalit Modi, opened up about how he played a massive role in Chris Gayle setting the stage on fire in the league. His comments came during the talk show named The Overlap Cricket.

Chris Gayle arguably is one of the best batsmen in IPL history. He was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the earlier editions of the league but failed to make a mark, which resulted in him getting unsold for the next few years.

However, things changed drastically for him when he came as an injury replacement for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2011. He joined the team midway and then after that, he changed the complexion of the game with his brutal power-hitting game.

How Lalit Modi Helped Chris Gayle?

Lalit Modi role in Chris Gayle IPL career was massive. While Gayle is known for his super successful career in the Indian Premier League, not many know his struggles and how he entered the league. Lalit Modi, who was the IPL chairman then, revealed how he made RCB pick Gayle in their squad.

Modi revealed that Gayle called him in 2011 and asked him about how he could play in the league as he wanted to clear his debts. The former IPL chairman added that three teams declined picking him, but it was the then RCB owner Vijay Mallya, who showed interest in Gayle. However, Mallya set a condition, saying that he will pay Gayle only if he performs. Lalit Modi IPL podcast went viral amongst the fans as the league is currently underway.

“Chris Gayle called me after the 2011 IPL auctions and told me why he wasn’t picked. I said it’s all about performance and you’re a performer, but you couldn’t. He then said ‘I badly needed to play because I had to clear my debts and pay my bills'," Modi told The Overlap Cricket host Michael Vaughan.

“I made a phone call, No.1, 2, 3 - all denied. Then I called Vijay Mallya and said ‘give this bloke a chance, you’ve an opening in your team’. Mallya said ‘Lalit, I’ll pay him if he performs’. I told Chris to go there and perform and Gayle set world records and got his own cheque books in RCB,” Modi added.

Chris Gayle’s IPL Records

Chris Gayle ended his career with the Punjab Kings and is rated as one of the most dangerous batsmen in IPL. He played 142 games in the league and slammed 4965 runs at an average and strike rate of 39.72 and 148 respectively.

The left-handed opener also hammered six centuries and 31 half-centuries in the league. His consistency was such that he is still amongst the batsmen with most runs in IPL despite having retired a long time ago. He was no mug with the ball as well as he picked 18 wickets at an economy of just under 8.

In his debut season with RCB, Gayle slammed 608 runs in only 12 matches at a strike rate of 183.13. He also hit centuries and held the record of hitting the most sixes (44). Not only this, but he also won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

After that, there was no looking back for Chris Gayle as he turned into the most lethal opener and was one of the major reasons behind RCB becoming the most loved team in the tournament.