The bludgeoning West Indies batsman has long struggled with back problems. He elected to have surgery after the Caribbean Premier League season which ended last month, and predicted he would be sidelined for two to three months.

Renegades director of cricket Tom Moody, who was in the West Indies because he holds the same role with the CPL, said they had been warned about the prospect of surgery and were comfortable about the expected recovery schedule. He said he expected the 35-year-old would be fit by October, well in advance of the BBL.

"We were aware that that was on the cards ... and the timing of it, that it was going to fit into the Big Bash. We've got 100 per cent confidence he'll be fine," Moody said.

Moody said he was unsurprised to have seen Gayle make such a destructive start to the tournament for Jamaica, after dominating in England in a short-term stint for Somerset.

"I've seen it in the IPL year-in, year-out. We know that he's incredibly destructive and he's box-office when he's off and running. We're just very hopeful that he turns it on this year for the Renegades."

The Renegades are so confident of Gayle's recovery they are not scouting replacement players in case it is behind schedule.

Their season begins on December 19, away to Brisbane.