Chris Gayle loves Keralam though he doesn’t have great memories of the State as a player. In the only international match he played in Kochi in 2013, the ‘Universe Boss’ pulled his hamstring and was run out for a duck.

He, however, remains enamoured by the beauty of Keralam. “It is actually good to be back here,’’ Gayle said. “The last time I came here was with my family while I was playing for Punjab Kings. I had a great time in the backwaters. But I am now here for a different reason,’’ added the 46-year-old, sporting a custom-made Kochi Blue Tigers jersey.

“To be part of Blue Tigers as a co-owner is something new and fantastic, something to look forward to particularly in the future. I think from a player’s point of view, being associated with a team after a career in any sport is fantastic.”

Gayle confessed that he wasn’t keeping close track of KCL but felt that he had a lot to offer in building the brand. He described IPL as the best franchise league in the world. “Overall, there is a lot of talent in India, so that is nothing new for me to come and talk about. IPL is the biggest franchise cricket league in the world, and KCL can open doors for players to get to the IPL. Having someone of my calibre as part of KCL is huge.

“I can share my views on how to build the league,’’ he said, adding that younger players are now dominating the shortest format. “The game has truly changed. Everybody is pretty much hitting sixes and it is like a free will. It is fantastic.”

When asked about the current state of West Indies cricket, Gayle remarked: “They are in a rebuilding situation right now. They just finished 1-1 in the series against Pakistan. There is a long process to go forward. I don’t want to say anything more about it now.’’