Player of the Match: RCB's Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle’s 38-ball 77 was enough to set up Royal Challenger Bangalore’s win against Gujarat Lions. He also went past 10,000 T20 runs.

Chris Gayle plundered 77 runs in 38 balls on Tuesday.

Brendon McCullum, nine years ago, kicked off IPL by making the highest T20 score. But, over the years, Chris Gayle broke that record, set a few that might not be broken and became the principal in the pantheon of T20 greats.

McCullum, too, is a T20 god. But Gayle is Zeus. On Tuesday night, it was a battle of these two big-hitters. Both were destructive. But Gayle’s 38-ball 77 bested Baz’s 44-ball 72.

Gayle also went past 10,000 T20 runs. Take a look at Gayle's stats and you’d laugh at the ridiculousness of the figures. He tops the leading run-getters list. Below him, there’s vast empty space. Then, McCullum comes second with 7596 runs. Gayle’s boundaries amount to 7520. Remember the times when you’d pondered the possibility of a T20 hundred? Gayle has 18. Gujarat Lions didn’t let him add another, but his 77 was enough to set up RCB’s win.