I didn't announce any retirement: Chris Gayle
Port-of-Spain: West Indies' third one-dayer against India here appeared to be the last international match for Chris Gayle but the 'Universe Boss' has suggested after the game that he has not yet retired.
The 39-year-old Gayle played the third ODI, which India won by six wickets under D/L method, on Wednesday with a special '301' jersey -- indicating the number of ODIs he has featured in throughout his career, a record for any cricketer from the West Indies.
The Jamaican, who made 72 off 41 balls, was applauded by the Indian players as he walked off after being dismissed in the 12th over of West Indies innings. He raised his bat, helmet perched on top of it, and the crowd continued to cheer, wondering if it was the last time they would see him bat.
But after the game, Gayle dismissed suggestions that this was his farewell game.
"I didn't announce anything...any retirement," he said in a short video posted by Cricket West Indies, when asked whether he has retired from ODI cricket or not.
Asked if he will still be around, he said, "Yeah, until further notice."
Gayle, who also had played in 103 Tests, had earlier announced that the ICC World Cup in the United Kingdom would be his last international assignment, before revealing a change of plans towards the end of the marquee tournament.
During the World Cup, he said he wanted to play the ODIs and Tests in the home series against India, possibly setting up a farewell Test at his hometown Kingston. However, Gayle was not selected for the two-match Test series, which made it likelier that he might have played his last international match in the third ODI against India here on Wednesday.
At the a post-match press conference, West Indies captain Jason Holder said, "To my knowledge he hasn't retired from international cricket."
"But today was an example of his career. The knock he played was outstanding. He got us off to a really good start. He was entertaining, he showed presence, and that's just what people have come to expect of Chris Gayle over the years."
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Rickelton's ton in vain as SRH beat MI by 6 wickets
Mumbai (PTI): Ryan Rickelton's whirlwind unbeaten ton was overshadowed by Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 65 as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
Chasing an imposing 244-run target, Travis Head (76 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24) shared 129 runs for the opening wicket to set the platform for SRH.
Klaasen (65 not out off 30 balls) then displayed his all-round hitting abilities to guide SRH home with the help of Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Salil Arora (30 not out off 10) in 18.4 overs.
Earlier, Rickelton's knock powered MI to 243 for five.
MI rode on a 93-run stand between Rickelton (123 not out off 55 balls) and Will Jacks (46 off 22) in 7.1 overs for the opening stand to power the side.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya scored a valuable 31 off 15 balls before being dismissed.
Praful Hinge (2/54), Eshan Malinga (1/29), Sakib Hasan (1/39) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/31) were the wicket-takers for SRH.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indian: 243 for 5 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 123 not out; Praful Hinge 2/54).
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 249 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Travis Head 76, Heinrich Klaasen 65 not out; AM Ghazanfar 2/51).
