IPL 2018: Dinesh Karthik shines bright in inconsistent Kolkata Knight Riders batting
Six wins and as many losses is proof of Kolkata Knight Riders’ inconsistency but their skipper Dinesh Karthik’s form has been great
Dinesh Karthik being the highest run-getter for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) shows both the inconsistency of their top order and a man who believes in leading from the front.
At 371 runs in 12 games, Karthik is 12th on the list before Monday but what is significant is that the KKR skipper has a strike rate of 154.58. That is less than only Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Shane Watson and MS Dhoni among those above him in the run-getters’ list. Including Saturday’s half-century that had an audacious pulled six off Andrew Tye after walking across, Karthik has thrice notched up strike rates of over 200. On two occasions it has been 250.
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Karthik has scored over 40 thrice in IPL 11 --- the 18-ball 45 against Chennai Super Kings here helping Shubman Gill get to his maiden half-century while ensuring that the asking rate never got too high --- and has two scores in the 30s. The only time Karthik hasn’t got into double-digits was in the 102-run defeat to Mumbai Indians here when he was run-out.
Six wins and as many losses is proof of KKR’s inconsistency but their skipper’s form has been anything but after the usual routine to going down on his haunches with the bat as prop soon after walking out. And having replaced a skipper who won two titles and took KKR to five playoff berths in seven seasons, batting’s only part of his job description.
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Bought for Rs 7.40 crore at January’s auction, Karthik has been competent with the gloves and pulled off a good catch flying to his left to get rid of Chris Gayle on Saturday. MS Dhoni may have a different way of leading from behind but Karthik often scooters to the bowler in the middle of an over. And though he hasn’t pulled punches when he felt the team underperformed, Karthik has also tried to convey positive vibes when KKR have copped it badly. Like after the massive defeat to Mumbai Indians here.
“He likes leading from the front. He leads with a lot of energy and obviously has got a lot of experience. And he understands the game pretty well. So, it has been a fairly smooth transition and hopefully we can come up with some good plans tomorrow and he will lead us to victory,” said KKR head coach Jacques Kallis here on Monday.
