The former Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils seamer believes the West Indies enigma's time at the top is coming to an end
Chris Gayle's place in the Punjab Kings XI should be majorly under threat, according to Ajit Agarkar.
The West Indies batter registered just 15 in the nine-wicket thrashing by Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday (April 21), as Kings were bowled out for just 120 batting first.
It was his third failure on the bounce, after scores of 10 and 11 against Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals.
Gayle insisted before the game he has "plenty in the tank" as he approaches his 42nd birthday.
But with Dawid Malan, who is ranked No.1 by the ICC in their T20 batting rankings, waiting in the wings Agarkar believes the time has come for change.
"I can understand it is a difficult decision to leave someone like him out when he has done well," the former Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Daredevils and India quick told ESPNCricinfo.
"If he is fit you always want to accommodate him. How long can you go on if he is not firing, I am not so certain, especially at this stage of his career?
"Do you have a better option than that? At the moment Nicholas Pooran is not scoring any runs either, who they must have had high hopes of, coming into the season.
"It is a tricky one. I am not sure how long they can keep playing Chris Gayle if he is not getting runs. At this stage of his career do you look at someone like Dawid Malan who is sitting out?
"Can he be consistent enough through the season? That will be the questions Punjab hope he answers quickly. At the moment suddenly everything starts looking worse than it is because they haven't had a good day with the bat."
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