'Peterson played very positively'

He is out with an injury but Adam Gilchrist played the role  of a mentor to perfection when he lavished praise on Piyush Chawla who leaked 27 runs in the 19th over to pave the way for Mumbai Indians’ win. 

Instead of blaming Chawla, Gilchrist praised Robin Peterson whose innovative switch hits got MI back in the game.  “I think we should celebrate positive cricket played by Peterson,” Gilchrist, who is currently out with a hamstring injury, said. “A reverse sweep, switch hit, slog to the boundary,” he said about Peterson’s batting in Chawla’s over.

Chasing 169 to win in 20 overs, MI surpassed the target leaving a ball to spare.
Defending stand-in captain David Hussey’s decision to use Chawla in the 19th over, Gilchrist said he bowled very well in the first three overs. “When you are in an important situation, I am sure every captain will go to his best bowlers,” he said.

Gilchrist said that Chawla was disappointed and he had a chat with him. “He has a good record in the tournament and I told him he needs to look ahead,” he said.

He also said that Hussey has captained well in the previous few matches in his absence. Gilchrist while responding to a question said no total can be safe the way T20s are played these days. “No situation is lost until the last ball has been bowled,” he said.

Medium pacer Parvinder Awana, who had brought Punjab back in the hunt taking two crucial wickets in the 18th over including that of Rohit Sharma, also earned praise from Gilchrist. “He has brought a real breath of fresh air with his bowling,” he said.

Left-arm spinner Peterson said the victory would work a kind of catalyst for them in the matches up ahead. “Well, you back each other when you are under pressure. It could be a catalyst, but there is still a long way to go,” he said.
He also added that MI bowlers did exceptionally well.