Sunday 28 January 2018 13:13, UK
Chris Gayle will take part in the 2018 Indian Premier League, but only after being signed in the third round of bidding by Kings XI Punjab.
The big-hitting opener had returned to the second day of the auction on Sunday after failing to attract any interest on Saturday, but only secured a £220,200 contract when the Kings XI asked for him to return a third time.
The 38-year-old played for Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2011-2017, having spent the first three seasons of the competition with Kolkata Knight Riders.
However, Gayle managed just 200 runs in nine innings for RCB last year, with a high score of 77, as the side finished bottom of the eight-team table having won just three of their matches.
The West Indian batsman smashed a record-breaking 18 sixes in an unbeaten 146 off just 69 balls in the Bangladesh Premier League final in December, hitting the 20th T20 century of his career.
Gayle endeared himself to the home fans at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in 2013 when he scored an extraordinary unbeaten 175 off 66 balls for RCB - which remains the highest T20 score in domestic and international cricket.
Despite making 76 off 38 balls in the 2016 IPL final, the explosive left-hander could not stop RCB falling to an eight-run loss to the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
On Saturday, Ben Stokes became the most expensive player of the auction as he was bought by Rajasthan Royals for £1.4m
Sky Sports has signed a new multi-year deal to broadcast 60 live IPL matches each year and this year's tournament gets underway on April 7.
