New Delhi, May 26 (NDTV): Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir, who has been advised 6-8 weeks of rest, was allowed to play against the Mumbai Indians in the IPL Eliminator on Wednesday only after his feedback, according to the team sources.

Before the match against Mumbai, Gambhir got an MRI done after he complained of discomfort. "Gambhir was constantly monitored for workload and was allowed to play after his feedback," KKR sources said.

The doctor's report suggested that Gambhir picked up an injury to his right shoulder during the World Cup and aggravated it while playing in the IPL. So did he hide his injury to play in the IPL?

Kolkata trainer Andrew Leipus wrote a letter to BCCI secretary N Srinivasan, saying, "the player felt acute pain in his right shoulder while landing on it in the field at one point during the World Cup final against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede stadium on April 2. Subsequent scans have now revealed a serious injury that would require him to avoid throwing or batting for four to six weeks".

Leipus, a former Team India physio, said that Gambhir had complained of a sore shoulder when he arrived in Kolkata for the IPL. "He clearly recollects a fielding incident where he landed on an outstretched arm and felt a catch deep in the shoulder. In the euphoria at the time, his attention was deservedly elsewhere and he didn't bother telling anyone about it," Leipus said.

Under Leipus's management and rehabilitation plan, Gambhir only reported pain intermittently. But during Kolkata's final group match at Eden Gardens on May 22, against Mumbai Indians, Gambhir winced in pain immediately after sending back a throw to the wicketkeeper from the deep. Leipus confirmed that the throw had "aggravated" the pain. The team then travelled for the Eliminator to Mumbai, where Gambhir consulted a prominent Mumbai-based surgeon and had an MRI scan taken.

This raises the question - if he wasn't 100 percent fit why did risk playing in the IPL, since he will now have to sit out of the West Indies tour, where he had to lead the Indian team in the absence of regular captain MS Dhoni.

Apart from Dhoni, India will also be without Sachin Tendulkar, who has been rested, and Virender Sehwag, who also underwent a shoulder surgery.

This latest development is sure to spark the country vs club debate once again since Sehwag had also played through the IPL with his injury. This also raises questions over the responsibility of the BCCI, the IPL team owners and the players.

The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) is likely to take a decision on the left hander on Thursday.