BANGALORE: Three deliveries had gone for maximums as the Chris Gayle-storm struck the Chinnaswamy Stadium in an instant. As Pune bowler Rahul Sharma sent his fourth delivery on the leg stump, Gayle lunged into it and slammed it high and deep into the pavilion and to the left of the Press box. The ball hit the chair or the steps on which the chairs are placed and just bounced into poor Tia B. The 11-year-old girl had no time to react as it struck her on the nose and she began to bleed instantly.
Fortunately, people around her reacted faster than Gayle did before hitting that shot and made sure that she received immediate medical attention. They rushed her to the nearby Mallya Hospital and was given all the medical treatment.
The doctors at the Mallya Hospital informed that Tia is well and truly on her way to recovery. “Tia has come out of the surgery beautifully. She is absolutely alright,” Mallya Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Kanchan Sanyal said. “Although she has suffered a nasal fracture, she will be discharged tomorrow.”
Later, in the night after the match, Chris Gayle who was very disturbed by the turn of the events, visited the girl and expressed his concern for her health.
The girl was extremely thrilled to see the legendary cricketer who stayed for almost a half an hour in the hospital with the patient. Tia’s parents welcomed the gesture from the cricketer and they too were touched by Gayle’s visit.
“It was a touching moment ... I pray for her recovery,” the West Indian said.