Have to take hard decisions: Gambhir blasts KKR batsmen

Kolkata, April 15 (IANS) Coming down heavily on his batsmen after going down to Kings XI Punjab by two runs in their Indian Premier League match, Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir Sunday said the team management was contemplating "some hard decisions" to bring the team back on the winning path.

Cruising at 73/2 in the 12th over in reply to Kings XI's 134/9, KKR suffered a batting collapse, and despite Debabrata Das's late flourish, finished on the losing side before around 50,000 spectators at the Eden Gardens.

"We have to take some hard decisions," a crestfallen Gambhir said at the post-match media meet.

But he said the final decision will be taken depending on the situation. "We will try to field the best possible XI."

He said it was not a "bad day in office", but the top and middle order batsmen should have shouldered greater responsibility.

"We should have finished the match in our favour," he said as the KKR stumbled to their third defeat in five games in the IPL.

Gambhir praised his bowlers and said the batsmen should have complemented heir efforts.

Asked about the consistent poor showing of Yusuf Pathan in the tournament, Gambhir said: "He is a big match player. He will be back among the runs very soon."

Queried about the slow and dry wicket, he said: "There is no point blaming the track. It was a good wicket to bat on"