Chris Gayle, the batting giant of West Indies cricket known for towering sixes and a destructive batting style, recently weighed in on the sport's most iconic cricket shots and the players who executed them. In a YouTube interview with Shubhankar Mishra, Gayle articulated which cricketers, to him, have defined some strokes in cricketing history. The players that he selected gave the fans a nostalgic and memorable glimpse at batting artistry.

For the straight drive, Gayle's first selection was the great Sachin Tendulkar, who is undoubtedly one of the greatest batters of all time. Tendulkar's straight drive has long been considered an example of technical perfection and grace, generally played with the full face of the bat.

From cover drives to switch hits: Gayle’s picks

Gayle selected modern-day master Virat Kohli for his cover drive selection. Kohli's cover drive is touted for his elegance, balance, and timing through the off-side and is currently celebrated as one of the best cover drives in the modern era, and compared to the greats of the past.

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As for the pull shot, Gayle believes that title belongs to India's current captain, Rohit Sharma. At his best, Rohit has made a name for himself with short-pitched bowling. He can pick the length, and he hits the shot so effortlessly that it has become his shot.

For the cut shot, Gayle will give it to the Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya, who changed one-day cricket at the top of the order. Jayasuriya could cut in between any of the gaps, especially the point region, with ferocious cuts; he was one of the most dangerous openers to ever play the game. 

Gayle believed the reverse sweep belongs to Andy Flower, who was one of the best players to play the shot. Flower used the reverse sweep not just as a run-scoring option, but also to negate spin, which he was doing in the 1990s and early 2000s, with the switch hit. Gayle gave it to former England player Kevin Pietersen, who made the shot famous during his prime years. The switch hit is one of the most audacious shots in cricket.

Gayle's selections demonstrate how these players excelled individually and transformed batting technique in ways that inspired a generation of cricketers. By recognising these masters of single shots, Gayle recognised both the classical and innovative elements of the game and the continually evolving artistic nature of batting in cricket.