Royal Challengers Bangalore was initially owned by liquor baron Vijay Mallya and was instrumental in the signing of ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle. The West Indies opener was a sensation for RCB in the Indian Premier League over the years, inducting him into their Hall of Fame along with former South African batsman AB de Villiers.
Social media could not keep calm when Mallya met his former hero Gayle and posted a picture on his Twitter handle. “Great to catch up with my good friend Christopher Henry Gayle @henrygayle, Universe Boss. Super friendship ever since I recruited him for RCB. Best acquisition of a player ever,” Mallya wrote on Twitter.
Nice to meet my good friend Christopher Henry Gayle [?]@henrigel[?] Universe Boss. Super friendship ever since I recruited him for RCB. Best acquisition by a player ever. pic.twitter.com/X5Ny9d6n6t – Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMally) June 22, 2022
Gayle joined RCB in 2011 and played for the franchise till 2017. He dominated the league during his stay at RCB and scored 3420 runs in 91 matches at an average of 43.29 and a strike rate of 154.40, including 21 fifties and 5 centuries. Furthermore, he played a sensational innings of 175 not out while playing for RCB, which is the highest individual score in the history of the tournament.
Such is the reaction on social media…
Anyone who has seen this Daru Pe Charcha episode can tell it. pic.twitter.com/0r12dNNUqX – Thomas Pokharel (@Thomaspokharel1) June 22, 2022
When will you give me money? You borrowed 2 rupiah from me remember when you went to vaag, I gave you a biscuit with 2 rupiah paisa de de – sandy (@Sayantanrt) June 22, 2022
Come home a foreigner may call you to the country
Thief + Fugitive + Darpok + Daket = Vijay Mallya
Gail black h on i feel fair right now
Because of Tere Kale Karnamo – Syed Qasim Raza Rizvi (@0851741e741a429) June 22, 2022
The ‘Universe Boss’ recently also met another former team owner Preity Zinta in the US. Mallya, the chairman of the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines, who was ordered to be extradited by the British judiciary in 2019, is yet to be deported to India.
India and the UK signed an extradition treaty in 1992. It was ratified the following year and has been in force ever since. Yet, only two persons – one of them voluntarily – have returned to India.
Mallya wants to face charges of fraud and money laundering in India and remains on bail in the UK while a “confidential” legal process is completed. Even though his extradition to India was ordered by the UK government in February 2019, Mallya opted for various legal options. He is reportedly relying on an application seeking political asylum in Britain as a way to oppose the order in British courts.