Kings XI Punjab captain Adam Gilchrist hinted that he won't be taking any further participation in the Indian Premier League as a player from next season after his side crashed out of the fifth edition of the Twenty20 event in Dharamsala.
Kings XI needed to win their last league match against table toppers Delhi Daredevils at the HPCA stadium in order to stand in with a chance of advancing to the four-team play-offs.
But soon after Kings XI slumped to a six-wicket defeat against the Daredevils, Gilchrist, who retired from international cricket way back in 2008, said he probably had played his last in the IPL.
"I suspect this might be the end of the road for me in the IPL, but let's see how it goes. Will go back home and think about future plans," Gilchrist said at the post-match press conference.
"It was a topsy-turvy road for us but the team fought really well. It was a pleasure to lead the side," the Australian added.
Gilchrist also credited the Daredevils bowlers for restricting Kings XI to a modest 141 for eight after inviting the home team to bat.
He said the hosts were 20 runs short of what would have been a competitive total on this track.
"I don't think there was too much on the surface. I It was a much better pitch. 160-170 would have been the ideal total," Gilchrist said.
"But all credit to Delhi. They bowled and fielded really well."
Daredevils stand-in captain Mahela Jayawardene said that the Delhi outfit would take lot of confidence into the play-offs from their performance in the league stages, where they finished on top with 22 points from 16 games.
"It was a good end to the league stage. We had a couple of good buys, but now we will have to start all over again in the playoffs.
"There is lot confidence to take forward (from league stage).
He also felt that 160 would have been a competitive total on this wicket.
Man-of-the-Match Umesh Yadav, who ripped apart Kings XI's top-order with figures of three for 19 from his four overs, said there was assistance for fast bowlers from the HPCA stadium pitch here.
"Good to bowl like this. It was a good track. There was lot of help on this pitch, there was swing and bounce. The feeling is always good to get such pitches after bowling on slow and low tracks," he said.
