When Gayle felt sorry for hitting a six!

The adulation that comes with playing sport at the highest level also brings the responsibility of reaching out to people - fans or friends cultivated in the game. And Chris Gayle and Albie Morkel have shown how to reach out.

On Tuesday, the way Gayle bludgeoned the ball, it was

understandable if the bowlers and fielders had to scramble for their helmets! But now that the Jamaican blaster has struck form, the fans may also have to carry protective head gear to the grounds when he goes on the rampage.

But Gayle is not just the brute force on view when he carted Pune Warriors' spinner Rahul Sharma for five sixes in one over while hammering a 48-ball 81. One of them sailed deep into the stands and struck an 11-year-old girl, who was left with a broken nose.

Warm personality
However, once he discards his bat, Gayle is warmth personified. After visiting his young fan to check the damage he had caused, he was all praise for the brave girl.

"Thanks! Really amazing game-that's IPL. Visit Tia who got hit by 1 of my 6s, broken nose :( her first word to me is to Chill, She's fine!" he tweeted.

Former Test batsman Sanjay Manjrekar, however, issued a health warning. "Have decided, my kids will not go to the ground where chris gayle is playing… it's just too dangerous…," he tweeted.

Chennai Super Kings' South Africa pacer, Morkel, also decided there is more to life than a game of cricket.

He rushed home on Wednesday morning on hearing that his close friend, Louis Vorster (45), a South African and Namibian domestic cricketer and coach, had been shot dead by armed robbers on the outskirts of Johannesburg.

It is not clear when Morkel will return.