Board of CricBCCI president Sourav Ganguly is convinced West Indies star Chris Gayle was hurt by being left on the bench for Kings XI Punjab earlier this season, despite his trademark broad smile suggesting otherwise.

The 41-year-old big-hitter was left out of the line-up for the first six games of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season.  With the team struggling to a 1-6 record, the player was scheduled to appear for the seventh match but was sidelined with a stomach illness.

Gayle eventually made his debut with an important 53 against Royal Challengers Bangalore that kept the team’s season alive.  Since his introduction, KXIP's playoff chances have been revived as they have won three games in a row and go for a fourth on Saturday.  In analysing the situation, Ganguly praised Gayle’s performance and believes some time on the sidelines may have helped the West Indies star.  Typically an opener, Gayle has been brought into the line-up as a number three batsman with captain KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal doing a great job at the very top of the order.

“We all think Chris Gayle keeps laughing and roaming but it pinched him that he has been made to sit out,” Ganguly told Star Sports.

“These are the things to see and learn from. IPL is just too much competition,” he added.