After the team's heavy innings defeat against Mumbai in the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy on Monday, Kulkarni, a Mumbai insider in the away dressing room, said: "We lost the match at 9.00 AM on Day One."

For the record, Kishore, after winning the toss, opted to bat first on what seemed like a surface that would assist pacers. Even as late as moments before the toss, Kulkarni, and the batters in the away dressing room, were under the impression that they would field first as long as they won the toss.

But Kishore, the leading wicket-taker in the competition this season, surprised his own team. "I always speak (in a) straightforward," he said. "I can take the horse to the water but the horse has to drink. We did all the home work. If you are going with three pacers, if you win the win the toss... somehow, the decision... we all know.

"I thought everything was set, we won the toss... as a Mumbaikar... I know the conditions and everything well. Yes, we should have bowled but then the captain has a different instinct