MUMBAI: Kings XI Punjab skipper Adam Gilchrist was gracious in defeat but expressed surprise over an injured Ambati Rayudu's decision to come off the bench and don the keeping gloves for Mumbai Indians after regular stumper Davy Jacobs got hurt in their IPL match in Mumbai on Monday.
"Ambati was off the field injured. We saw him getting injured and we saw him getting down with serious pain which is fine. You go in and the 12th man comes in. (But) I found it extraordinary when Jacobs had to go off and suddenly Ambati Rayudu is fit to play again. You are either fit or not fit," said Gilchrist after his team's 23-run defeat.
"I know there is no rule or regulation against it. But question needs to be asked. If the fielder is not fit, Rohit Sharma probably would have been the one that would have to take the gloves. Two balls later he takes a spectacular catch in the outfield. So it's for you guys to write whether it was appropriate or not," he said.
"But it was not the reason we lost the game; far from it. They outplayed us. (But) full marks for us in the Kingfisher Spirit of cricket award. I am sure we will get ten out ten for that game," said the retired Australian great.
On the defeat, Punjab's fourth in seven games, Gilchrist said the batting failed to fire though the bowlers did a very good job to restrict Mumbai to 159.
indiatimes.com
"Ambati was off the field injured. We saw him getting injured and we saw him getting down with serious pain which is fine. You go in and the 12th man comes in. (But) I found it extraordinary when Jacobs had to go off and suddenly Ambati Rayudu is fit to play again. You are either fit or not fit," said Gilchrist after his team's 23-run defeat.
"I know there is no rule or regulation against it. But question needs to be asked. If the fielder is not fit, Rohit Sharma probably would have been the one that would have to take the gloves. Two balls later he takes a spectacular catch in the outfield. So it's for you guys to write whether it was appropriate or not," he said.
"But it was not the reason we lost the game; far from it. They outplayed us. (But) full marks for us in the Kingfisher Spirit of cricket award. I am sure we will get ten out ten for that game," said the retired Australian great.
On the defeat, Punjab's fourth in seven games, Gilchrist said the batting failed to fire though the bowlers did a very good job to restrict Mumbai to 159.
indiatimes.com