IPL: Gambhir, Kallis and the diamond duck brigade

Bikash Mohapatra lists the batsmen who have unfortunately been dismissed without facing a ball during this IPL.

It's anything but an enviable record. And a batsman has to live with it for no fault of his.

Gautam Gambhir, however, admitted he was at fault.

"It was foolishness on my part. There's no point in rushing for a second run as the innings had just started and there was plenty of time left," explained the Kolkata Knight Riders' captain after his side suffered a humiliating seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Delhi Daredevils in Raipur.

The 'foolishness' cost Gambhir his wicket, Irfan Pathan running him out, even before he had faced a ball.

It probably cost his team the match, considering the fact that the captain is Kolkata's best batsman as well.

Gambhir's dismissal made him the fifth batsman in this edition of the Indian Premier League to be out for a diamond duck – before facing a ball. Rediff.com takes a look at the other instances.

Kolkata Knight Riders have two representatives in this avoidable list, with Jacques Kallis joining ahead of his captain during his team's match against Chennai Super Kings at the Eden Gardens.

The veteran South African was run-out by Subramanian Badrinath even as he was responding to Yusuf Pathan's call for a single.

Besides doing exceedingly well with the ball for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Amit Mishra has also done his bit with the bat.

Mishra's contributions down the order have been important on more occasions than one.

However, in their match against Royal Challengers Bangalore the leg spinner didn't quite get a chance to make an effort. He was late in responding to Hanuma Vihari's call for a third run and R Vinay Kumar seized the opportunity.

Manpreet Gony's case is similar to that of Amit Mishra.

As a bowler who can hit the ball, he has been handy for an erratic, rather inconsistent, Kings XI Punjab outfit.

However, in their away fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gony never got an opportunity to display his hitting prowess. Responding to Gurkeerat Mann's call for a second run that was never there, Gony lost his wicket.

Guess who was the bowler? Mishra!

For the record, Hyderabad comfortably won the match.

Finally, we have the most controversial name on the list.

Ambati Rayudu was dismissed before he could face a ball in Mumbai Indians' match against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Bangalore captain Virat Kohli, having run-out Dinesh Karthik with a spectacular throw from mid-off off the previous ball (18th over), was at it again. Only on this occasion the bowler (R Vinay Kumar) came in Rayudu's way, albeit unintentionally.

The batsman was forced to return for no fault of his even as an irate Wankhede crowd labeled Kohli a 'cheater' for not showing sportsmanship.

Kohli's rant at the supporters shortly after the match, in which Bangalore suffered a humiliating 58-run defeat, is well-documented since.