After Kings XI Punjab’s 28-run defeat at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday (March 27) night, skipper Ravichandran Ashwin took the blame on himself for the no-ball incident which proved to be a key difference in the eventual outcome.
Mohammad Shami got rid of KKR’s Andre Russell with a peach of a yorker in the last delivery of the 17th over when the Windies all-rounder was on three. But to the horror of KXIP, it was deemed as a no-ball since the visiting team was found to have one fielder short of the mandatory four inside the 30-yard circle.
Afterwards, Russell took the Punjab attack to the cleaners and played yet another enterprising knock. He scored 48 runs off just 17 deliveries (3 fours and 5 sixes) to help KKR post 218/4 in 20 overs.
“We weren’t really focussed on the small things and they do cost you big in this format. Yes, we definitely have to look at it next game. I’ll take the blame (for the no-ball incident),” Ashwin said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
“I should have had a look at it. At that stage, with the slog on, you hope the fielders are switched on but obviously he (Varun Chakravarthy or Hardus Viljoen) was a debutant,” he added.
It was not clear as to who Ashwin was referring to as both Varun Chakravarthy and Hardus Viljoen were making their IPL debuts for Kings XI Punjab on Wednesday.
Russell, who received his second consecutive Man-of-the-Match award, thanked the KXIP players for the goof-up.
“Thanks to that guy who was outside the ring. It’s the new guy, forgot his name. Thank you. When I get bowled, I thought I had missed out but I saw the guys in dug out signalling no-ball and I was like, please God, let it be a no-ball. I did not let it go and capitalised on it,” Russell said.
Later on, Russell got the prize scalps of Chris Gayle (20) and Sarfaraz Khan (13) to help KKR restrict KXIP to 190/4 in 20 overs.
“Gayle is like a brother to me. A legend and to get him out early in the first six is big. The plan was to restrict him as best as possible. Today, I hit some big ones but he (Gayle) is still the bigger hitter,” he concluded.
(With PTI inputs)
