Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir was fined 15 per cent of his match fee for showing dissent at the umpire’s decision during an Indian Premier League match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday.
Gambhir was left fuming when he was given out caught behind off Hyderabad pacer Dale Steyn in the second over during KKR’s 143-run chase. Gambhir swung his bat at a widish delivery from Steyn but the ball passed inches away from his bat and into the hands of the wicketkeeper. Hyderabad players appealed and to Gambhir’s surprise, umpire Nigel Llong raised his finger.
Gambhir admitted to the level 1 offence (Article 2.1.3) and accepted the sanction by match referee Ranjan Madugalle. For Level 1 breaches of the IPL Code of Conduct, the referee’s decision is final and binding.
Kolkata were 8 for one after Gambhir’s unlucky dismissal but Robin Uthappa (40) and Manish Pandey (35) steadied the chase with a 51-run partnership for the second wicket. Yusuf Pathan (39 not out) and Ryan ten Doeschate (25*) struck some lusty blows in the end to help the 2012 champions beat Hyderabad by seven wickets and keep their playoff hopes alive.
