'The universe boss is still here': RCB's Chris Gayle first to reach 10,000 T20 run milestone

Chris Gayle became the first batsman in cricket to reach 10,000 Twenty20 runs after his 77 off 38 balls helped Royal Challengers Bangalore defeat the Gujarat Lions by 21 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The West Indies batsman achieved the feat on Tuesday (18 April), hitting five fours and seven sixes as his 122-run partnership with Virat Kohli helped RCB off the bottom of the IPL table.

"People are still looking out for Chris Gayle," he said, as quoted on ESPN. "The universe boss is still here and still alive. It was great fun."

"You know it's good to be back. I wanted this so badly, but first of all to get 10,000 runs, it was actually on my mind, so I'm glad to get that sort of achievement. It's a privilege to actually be the first person to get there. Hopefully I can continue entertaining the fans."

Before the game, he was on 9,997 runs and after being brought in as a replacement for AB de Villiers, Gayle was relieved to have gotten past the landmark.

"Samuel Badree reminded me before the game and said 'Chris only three more runs to go, make sure you get it' so it was actually playing on my mind a bit," he explained. "Once I crossed the line, I said: 'listen it's time to have a go and then it eventually paid off, so I am really happy to get the runs."

The new milestone only adds to the plethora of T20 records under the 37-year-old's name as he also holds the record for most centuries (18) and fifties (60) as well as becoming the first to hit 600 sixes in the format.

Currently with the most sixes (736) and fours (764) in T20 cricket, Gayle hopes to keep entertaining cricket fans as he thanked them for their support.

"I just want to thank the fans and all the franchises where I have actually played around the world," he added. "Even playing for West Indies as well. At the end of the day, they have actually played a part in this 10,000 runs as well."

"So, I want to thank all the franchises. It has been fantastic and like I said still I have a lot more to offer to the fans. Hopefully, I can keep entertaining and get a few more thousand runs under my belt."