IPL 2023 auction: Mayank Agarwal hurt, the way Punjab Kings treated him disappointing, says Chris Gayle

IPL legend Chris Gayle feels the way Punjab Kings treated Mayank Agarwal was disappointing. Agarwal had led the team for the first time in IPL 2022 but the Mohali-based franchise could not make it to the playoff stages. The Karnataka batter scored 196 runs in 13 matches at an average of 16.33 and a strike rate of 122.50 in the previous season.

Subsequently, he was released by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2023 mini-auction and Punjab named Shikhar Dhawan as their new captain. In fact, Agarwal had a good season in IPL 2021 for Punjab Kings as he scored 441 runs in 14 matches at an average of 40.09 and a strike rate of 140.45, which has been his best season in the lucrative tournament.

Ergo, he could have been backed by Punjab Kings but he was shown the exit doors. Gayle is sure that Agarwal will get picked in IPL 2023 auction on Friday.

“Mayank will definitely get picked. I would be very disappointed if he doesn’t. Because he is such an explosive player,” Gayle told news agency PTI.

“He has probably hurt within himself at not being retained by Punjab after what he sacrificed for the franchise and to be treated like that is disappointing but I hope teams still believe in him and give him good money. He is a fantastic team man as well,” he added.

Gayle, who played for Punjab Kings in the past in the IPL, believes the changing, and chopping at the franchise is ridiculous and they need to be consistent.

“They chop and change man, it is ridiculous. You keep chopping and changing, they never have a set eleven whether you win a match. Sometimes they would go with the same team but so often players don’t feel comfortable.

“When they do get a chance and IPL is already pressure, so (with that sort of approach) you end putting more excessive pressure and with that you won’t see them flourishing within the game.”

IPL 2023 will take place in Kochi on Friday.