Gayle, RCB's most prolific run-scorer last season, was his usual aggressive self as he plundered 92 runs off 58 deliveries, which included 11 fours and five sixes.
"Obviously Chris has been magnificent for us. He has proved why he is the best Twenty20 player in the world and also showed us that he does not think about hard hitting, but thinks about the game as well," he said.
"We are not worried about the tag attached to Chris. You can't say this in the first game of the tournament," he added.
Referring to his and Karun Nair's dismissals, Kohli hinted that umpiring marred his team's momentum and its chances of scoring in excess.
"I was reading the ball well and feeling good. As I said, a few decision which could have gone our way, did not happen. When I went in, Chris (Gayle) told me it is doing a bit and I just trusted myself and wanted to just time my shots.
"The two overs I played, the momentum shifted towards us and when I got out, the merit went to the other side," he told reporters when asked if his departure changed the momentum of the game.
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