IND vs WI | Chris Gayle opts out of ODI series, wants break from cricket

Windies legend Chris Gayle has confirmed that he will opt out of the ODI series against India in December as he wants to take a break from cricket in order to contemplate his future in the game. Gayle said that he would take a break for the remainder of 2019 to understand where he sees himself in 2020 and to reset his career objectives.

Gayle was recently playing in the MSL for the defending champions Jozi Stars and he was underwhelming in his performances scoring just 101 runs in 6 innings. He was tired and burdened with the constant criticism that he faced from the media and the franchise owners for his dip in form and felt that it is in the best interest to take a break and contemplate his future in 2020.

"West Indies called me to play ODIs, but I am not going to play. They (selectors) want me to play with the youngsters but for this year I am going to take a break," Gayle said in an MSL media briefing after the Stars' defeat. 

Gayle has also confirmed that he won't be playing in the Big Bash League either this year as he will be taking a break from cricket till the end of 2019. 

"I am not going to the Big Bash. I'm not sure what cricket will come up, I don't even know how my name reached the BPL, but I have been drafted in a team and I don't even know how that happened," he asserted.

The Windies are the defending champions of the T20 World Cup and with the mega event set to be hosted Down Under next year, newly-appointed white-ball skipper Kieron Pollard said that Gayle is still in the scheme of things for the Windies T20 outfit.

"You have Chris Gayle who is still playing T20 cricket around the world. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the T20 arena, 50-over, in Test cricket, so he can share a lot of that," Pollard said.

Only Gayle himself knows where he would like to be come 2020 and for that he feels taking a break from the game for the remainder of this year is very necessary.

"I'm going to recharge my batteries and think ahead in life and try and plan it better and keep the people who are more real around you. There's a lot of things I am going to analyse. You never stop learning. Doesnt matter how long I have been playing. There's a lot of things for me to give back. 2020 is just around the corner. I will use now and next month to reflect on what I really want for 2020," Gayle concluded.