Chris Gayle becomes first player to score 1,000 sixes in T20 cricket

Chris Gayle became the first batsman to score 1,000 T20 sixes after passing the milestone during a bruising innings in the IPL.

The 41-year-old West Indian hammered eight sixes, taking his career tally in the format to 1,001, during a knock of 99 from 63 balls for Kings XI Punjab against Rajasthan Royals in Abu Dhabi.

Gayle thumped his 1,001st six off Jofra Archer in the final over of Kings XI's innings, only to then be bowled next delivery by the England paceman as he missed out on a 23rd T20 hundred.

The Jamaican's total of T20 sixes is over 300 more than second-placed Kieron Pollard, who has hit 690 maximums to date and over 500 more than third-place Brendon McCullum, who struck 485.

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Speaking after his innings, Gayle - who has three half-centuries in six IPL innings this season - said: "To the guys I promised a century, I missed out, but in my mind it's a century! It was a good knock.

"Getting out on 99 was unfortunate. I have been there and done that already but these things happen.

"I have to give thanks that I am still hitting it well at the age of 41. I think the dedication and hard work has paid off over the years

"I am still feeling good. It's all about the mental aspect of my game, I think that's what's keeping me going.

"I am still enjoying my cricket the same way and I still want to do well. I'd love an IPL trophy under my belt."

Hussain: Gayle has technique and talent

A stomach problem delayed Gayle's introduction to the 2020 tournament but Nasser Hussain says the left-hander has been "amazing" since returning - and insists the burly batsman is far more than just brute strength.

"He ticks a lot of boxes. He is a big, strong bloke. He uses a big bat. But when he hits all these sixes, look how still his head position is," the former England captain said of Gayle.

"He gets that leg out of the way, gets a very solid base and hardly moves his head. He never over-hits. There is muscle but a lot of talent and technique as well.

"Any youngster, boy or girl, should look at how still he is at the crease. He makes it look so easy.

"He didn't start the tournament, got ill, went to hospital with a stomach upset but since he has been back he has been amazing. He is the cool dude, as cool as you like."

Cricket salutes Gayle

Gayle's six statistics

349 - Number of sixes for Gayle in the Indian Premier League, the most by a batsman in any T20 league.

135 - The most number of T20 sixes Gayle has hit in a calendar year, in 2015. He has nailed 100-plus sixes in six different years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017).

18 - The highest number of sixes Gayle has struck in one T20 innings, for Rangpur Riders against Dhaka Dynamites in the 2017 Bangladesh Premier League final.

18 - Number of times Gayle has hit 10 or more sixes in a T20 match. No other batsman has done it more than three times.

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