West Indies cricket icon Chris Gayle has accused Punjab Kings (PBKS) of disrespecting him during the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, sparking widespread fan outrage. In a candid interview on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast, Gayle revealed he felt “treated like a kid” despite his legendary status, leading to his mid-season exit from the franchise.

The 45-year-old, who played for PBKS from 2018 to 2021, said the mistreatment pushed him into “depression mode” for the first time, even breaking down during a one-on-one with then-head coach Anil Kumble. Gayle, who scored 1,339 runs in 41 matches for PBKS, including a century and 10 fifties, recounted how captain KL Rahul urged him to stay, assuring a spot in the next game. “I just said, ‘I wish you all the best,’ packed my bag, and walked out,” Gayle said, citing mental health concerns and bio-bubble fatigue ahead of the 2021 T20 World Cup.

His final IPL match was against Mumbai Indians on September 28, 2021, scoring just one run. With 4,965 runs in 142 IPL matches, including a record 357 sixes, Gayle’s contributions to the league are unmatched, making his allegations particularly stark.

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Fans have flooded social media, criticizing PBKS’s management and drawing parallels to past player mistreatment claims, including Mayank Agarwal’s release in 2022. The controversy underscores broader concerns about franchise accountability and player welfare in the high-pressure IPL environment.

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