Kevin Pietersen feels sorry for Deccan Chargers, says they don’t need to lose heart

Kevin Pietersen, who hit a century to take the game away from Deccan Chargers, said that he was feeling a “bit sorry” for Darren Lehmann and Kumar Sangakkara’s boys. Interestingly, he admitted the Hyderabad franchise’s decision to transfer him ahead of the season had been playing on his mind during the game, says a report in The Times Of India.

“I feel sorry for Hyderabad and the boys,” he said, adding in jest: “But then I gave them enough chances! I know I could very well have been playing for them today but I’m also glad I’m on the winning team. Playing for Delhi is fantastic. When you go out to bat you have a job to do, but that said…yes, the decision (to move him to Delhi) was there at the back of my mind.” He had a word of encouragement for Hyderabad as well, saying, “They don’t need to lose heart. In the IPL, how you play in May matters more than how you play in April.”

‘KP’ admitted Delhi had been lucky to prevail. “We were lucky to scrape through. We were tested, we lost a couple of early wickets but I’m in pretty good form at the moment so I backed myself and it came off. It was my job today to see the team through.”

According to a report in Indian Express, Indian Premier League chairman Rajiv Shukla said that he had sought a report from the match referee over the incident involving Kings XI Punjab owner Preity Zinta during her side's IPL match against Kolkata Knight Riders in Mohali.

Zinta was seen visibly agitated and reacting vigorously during the strategic time out period against the controversial dismissal of Kings XI batsman Shaun Marsh. Shukla said that he had asked the match referee Roshan Mahanama of Sri Lanka to submit a report to him at the earliest on the incident. "I have sought a report from the match referee on the entire issue. I will also take Preity Zinta's version on the incident," Shukla said.

Meanwhile The Hindu writes that these are testing times for Kings XI Punjab. If the top-order failure against KKR was not bad enough, skipper Adam Gilchrist is out of Friday's match against Royal Challengers Bangalore owing to a hamstring tear. Gilchrist, who suffered the injury during the match against Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday, told mediapersons here on Thursday that fellow Aussie David Hussey would lead the team.

“I got a scan done this morning and it said I have a hamstring tear. I will work on my recovery with the physio,” revealed Gilchrist. He chose to look ahead by saying, “It is an opportunity for someone else to play. We have a lot of good batsmen in the side. Like, Shaun Marsh. He is statistically the best T20 batsman in the world. So it shouldn't be a concern.”

Looking at the opposition, Gilchrist said: “They are a strong all-round team. They are very competent. Our challenge is to do what we do well. We have to get wholly into a match and get our chance.”