Vanquished Deccan Chargers captain Adam Gilchrist on Thursday night criticised the Delhi Daredevils for their pacer Mohammad Asif's off-and-on presence on the field during the IPL match even though his opposite number Virender Sehwag pooh-poohed the allegation.
Gilchrist said it baffled him to see Asif bowling two overs and then going out before returning again to bowl his final two overs.
Shoaib Malik fielded for Asif, while Delhi already had substitute fielder AB de Villiers for their opener Gautam Gambhir who had injured his knee while batting.
"This is for the first time I saw so many substitute fielders taking so many catches. I mean you see the bowler bowling and going off to come back, bowl again and again going off. I mean it's for the umpires to see," a visibly disgruntled Gilchrist said after his side's 12-run loss.
Sehwag, however, dismissed the allegation and said Gilchrist should consult the rules.
"I think if umpires did not have any problem, Gilchrist too should not have any. I mean he can see the rule book, which clearly says a bowler can go out as many times as needed in case of external injury. Asif was injured while fielding," Sehwag said.
Despite the win, which snapped Delhi's string of four defeats on the trot, Sehwag was in sombre mood after being pelted at his home ground.
"It's unfortunate that an Indian player has been pelted in India. I mean a Delhi player was stoned at in Delhi," said the home side captain.
Asked to name the player, he said, "Sehwag. I was fielding at the boundary line when it hit me."
Meanwhile, Man-of-the-Match Amit Mishra quietly basked in the glory of his match-winning five-wicket haul, which also included a hat-trick.
"I'm really happy. My captain stood by me and the entire team egged me on," said the leg-spinner.