Chris Gayle's T20 career numbers are mind-boggling: 13,971 runs at 37.55 and a strike-rate of 146.06. He is 3000 runs ahead of his nearest rival West Indies teammate Kieron Pollard.
When he was recalled to the West Indies squad earlier this year after a two-year hiatus for the series against Sri Lanka, he said he wanted to add a third world title to his list of achievements. He was also happy about the role the team asked him for. He is batting at number 3.
However, the comeback has been a struggle. Questions are coming in whether he has the steam to reach that end goal and if West Indies are digging themselves a hole - even as they lead 2-0 in the current series against Australia.
There were promising signs in the first match against South Africa when he chased down a brilliant run of 32 off 24 balls. But his T20I average dropped below 30 for the first time since his third match in 2007 after he was dismissed for 13 off 16 balls against Australia on Saturday.
It is part of a steady decline. His unbeaten 32 runs in nine matches against Sri Lanka, South Africa and Australia so far is his best effort. The tally is 102 runs in nine innings.
The teams have bowled well to him. Josh Hazlewood gave nothing when a young woman was sent down in the first match in St Lucia, and a tight line from Mitchell Marsh resulted in a bottom edge in the second. Against Sri Lanka, he was troubled by spin. He had a working over from Kagiso Rabada while facing South Africa.
But, internationally at least, it goes far behind. Runs had dried up in T20I cricket before his absence from the team. In 16 innings since the last T20 World Cup, he has scored 210 runs at 14.00 and a strike-rate of 102.43.
Still, another veteran West Indies player, Dwayne Bravo, argues that Gayle has more than just runs.
After the second match against Australia, he told the host broadcaster, "In the last four years, Gayle has been the one we are used to but as individuals we are happy to have him in the group." "We no longer judge him by his performance, only Chris's presence is a fear factor for the opposition and brings a certain level of calmness to our dressing room.
"There's a lot of outside pressure because of age but there's no pressure in the dressing room. We appreciate what we've done for West Indies cricket, he's a great player, and enjoy the past few months with him and see him play this game." Proceed through to the last. Phase of his career. He's trying his best to be conservative, not playing his flamboyant game, but we're not worried about his score."
It would seem a confession that the team may have to take Gayle to the finishing line - whenever he is. It also suggests that he is deliberately playing within himself, or at least to a certain game plan. At the height of his powers, Gayle could absorb a large number of dot balls, but often rendered those redundant with convoys of boundaries. Might not be worth it to finish and throw the handbrake one last time.
The memory didn't come from anywhere. This franchise was on the back of strong returns in the league. In the 2019 and 2020 IPL, he produced a combined 778 runs at 40.94, including two scores of 47. for West Indies.
His last innings was a 40-ball 68 in the PSL before returning for the West Indies in March. In 2019 he scored a 62-ball 116 in the CPL - the last of his 22 T20 centuries. The most recent IPL had a glimpse of what he could still do, with three scores in his 40s, before the tournament was suspended.
"That's my heart. I am not going to turn down anything related to West Indies cricket at this particular time," Gayle said ahead of the Sri Lanka series. "So I came back ... to be part of the leading set-up in the World Cup so that we can have unity within the group, and then hopefully we can win this T20 trophy.
"At 41 years old, this is really what I get on a daily basis: It's more mental than physical for me. It's the will of the mind. The mind still wants to be outside and be out in the park, yet a Executed from the batting point of view and still having fun. That's what gives me that extra drive to keep playing. If the brain stops working like this for me, I'll have to ask myself a big question out there, but for now For, it's the mindset."
Gayle has worked with the bat to drop the jaw. It wouldn't feel fair to end it with a series of shots of inside edges and wrong timing. Don't rule out the ultimate flourish, but it can be a far-fetched challenge, even for one of the greatest.