Deepak Hooda IPL 2020: Who has Chris Gayle replaced in KXIP Playing XI vs RCB?

Chris Gayle IPL 2020: The Universe Boss has eventually been included in Kings XI Punjab’s Playing XI in Sharjah tonight.

During the 31st match of the ongoing 13th season of the Indian Premier League between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab in Sharjah, Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli has won the toss and chose to bat for yet another time in the tournament.

“We’ll bat first. It looks like a dry surface and got considerably slower the last night. We saw in the second innings there was no dew and it was gripping. When the team wins you look good as a captain. There have been many individuals who have put their hands up even after two losses.

“It’s only halfway and we have to keep it up. The most important thing is to focus on your own skillset. Even in the biggest ground in the world people score 220. There is no given in cricket and we just want to carry on,” Kohli said during the toss.

Chris Gayle IPL 2020

While Royal Challengers have decided to take the field with the same Playing XI, Kings XI Punjab have made as many as three changes to their side.

“We were looking to bat first as well. Just looking to get a couple of wickets and put pressure on them. We all feel we deserve more than two points. We have played good cricket and have lost a couple of close games.

“We have come here looking to win this game and be the best team we can. Everybody knows that all games are must wins for us from hereon. It’s not a bad place to be in, we need to bring our A game and do our best,” Rahul said during the toss.

Rahul further announced that batsman Mandeep Singh suffered an injury during training yesterday. Other than Mandeep, wicket-keeper batsman Prabhsimran Singh and spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman will also miss this must-win match for Kings XI.

While Universe Boss Chris Gayle has been eventually given a match after his recovery from food poisoning, all-rounder Deepak Hooda and spinner Murugan Ashwin have also been included in Punjab’s Playing XI.

Hooda, 25, is making his debut for KXIP after stints at Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Ashwin, on the other hand, has already played three IPL 2020 matches.

Chris Gayle IPL 2020 Price

Having scored 490 runs in 13 matches at an average and strike rate of 40.83 and 153.60 respectively including four half-centuries, Gayle was Punjab’s second highest run-scorer in IPL 2020.

Overall, Gayle has scored 858 runs in 24 T20s across two seasons for Kings XI at an average and strike rate of 40.86 and 150.26 including one century and seven half-centuries. Playing at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, it will be interesting to watch the 41-year old hard-hitting batsman play today.

Gayle, who was released by RCB after IPL 2017, was bought by Kings XI for his base price of INR 2 crore in before IPL 2018.