West Indies
legend Dwayne Bravo played his last game for the team and with uncertainty over
‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle’s future in international cricket, it was an
emotional end to the defending champions’ T20 World Cup campaign against
Australia on Saturday.

The Caribbean
team lost by eight wickets against Australia in Abu Dhabi as the curtains fell
on one Bravo’s career, while there is uncertainty over Gayle’s future – who has not yet called his retirement from international duties. Both players received guards of honour from teammates and the Australian players.

Gayle was dismissed for 15 runs from nine deliveries, a knock
in which he rolled back the years with two sixes, amid speculation that
he could have played his last game for the team.

Also Read | For me, it’s the end of an era: Kieron Pollard on Dwayne Bravo and Chris Gayle

Commentator
Ian Bishop was among the first to pay his tributes to the big Jamaican, calling
him a “great servant” of West Indies cricket. “Well there we go. That could
tell us everything we need to know that it could be the last time that we see
Chris Gayle in West Indies colours. His teammates applauding him.”

“A great servant of West Indies cricket and the
world game. Leading run scorer in T20s, excellent Test batter and that could be
the last glimpse of him in maroon. This will live in the legacy of the
‘universe boss’.”

Gayle has
played 445 innings in his T20 cricket, including for the West Indies
and in domestic leagues across the world, scoring 14,321 runs at an average of
36.44. The self-proclaimed ‘Universe Boss’ has 87 fifties and 22 hundreds in the
format, including a high score of 175*.

Also Read | This was the right moment to walk away: Dwayne Bravo on retirement

Former
Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi said Gayle inspired a generation of of players. “One of the
greatest T20I players of all time! Congratulations on a wonderful career @henrygayle.
You inspired a new generation of players all around the world, go well Universe
Boss,” Afridi tweeted.

Commentator
Harsha Bhogale said that irrespective of how the tournament has gone, Gayle and
Bravo “have been jewels”.

“Chris
Gayle & Dwayne Bravo defined a decade of T20 cricket. It’s hard to believe
they are saying farewell to international cricket. Go well big men, you changed the game,” cricket
analyst Joy Bhattacharya said.

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some more reactions:

Gayle has
also played 103 Tests and 301 ODIs for the Windies, scoring 7,215 and 10,480
runs respectively. Bravo has scored 1,255 runs in 91 T20Is for West Indies, along
with 78 wickets.