Dinesh Karthik Was Sacked By Kolkata Knight Riders: Aakash Chopra
Oct 17, 2020 at 5:05 PM
Dinesh Karthik was sacked as captain by Kolkata Knight Riders according to Aakash Chopra although as per the official statement, the wicket-keeper batsman stepped down from captaincy to focus on his batting only.
Aakash Chopra made this observation while reviewing Eoin Morgan led Kolkata Knight Rider’s defeat to Mumbai Indians again by 8 wickets. Mumbai Indians had defeated Kolkata in the 1st half too by 49 runs when skipper Rohit Sharma led from the front by scoring 80.
Dinesh Karthik Was Sacked By Kolkata Knight Riders As No Captain Leaves Team Halfway: Aakash Chopra
Dinesh Karthik started well as captain though as KKR won 4 and lost 3 in the first 7 matches. He had scored 112 runs so far in 8 matches averaging only 14 though but he scored 58 off 29 balls against Kings XI Punjab which KKR won by 2 runs. KKR had beaten Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and SunRisers Hyderabad apart from KXIP.
“KKR sacked their captain mid-season, although not sacked as per the official communication which always says that the player himself is saying that he does not want to captain.”
“We can all take this at face value but no player leaves the team halfway, that is what I feel. I have not spoken to Karthik but the news that has come is that he has said that he doesn’t want to captain.”
“Although to be honest, the team’s performance had been good. They had won four out of their seven matches and they had to win only four of their remaining seven before this match to qualify.”
“And then in the batting as well Karthik had played one good knock where he had scored a half-century against KXIP and that too at a very good pace. Then why did he leave the captaincy, I don’t know.”
“I am personally not on the same page. I feel if KKR had to give the captaincy to Eoin Morgan, it should have been done right at the beginning. If you do it at the midway, things go bad, that is my personal opinion.”
Dinesh Karthik had led KKR in 37 matches out of which KKR won 19. He had a win percentage of 52.7. He had led Kolkata in 2018 and 2019 taking over the reins from Gautam Gambhir.
Aakash Chopra: Mumbai Indians Taught How To Chase A Target
Kolkata Knight Riders faltered in their quest to win against table-toppers Mumbai Indians as their top order failed as KKR was reduced to 61/5 in the 11th over before Pat Cummins and new skipper Eoin Morgan revived the situation and gave KKR a respectable score of 148/5. In reply, Mumbai Indians easily achieved the target losing 2 wickets as opener Quinton De Kock scored an unbeaten 78 to guide Mumbai to top of the table.
“KKR won the toss and elected to bat first which was the correct decision. But Mumbai Indians kept them on a tight leash, first by the fast bowlers and then two wickets by Rahul Chahar of consecutive deliveries.”
“KKR was trying, Russell comes and tries but this year his bat has not fired at all. Bumrah dismissed him and Bumrah has got him out both the times in the two matches. Once he hit his wickets and now with the bouncer.”
“Morgan was standing in the middle but the bat was not striking the ball well. Pat Cummins came and showed that the pitch was not that difficult as he batted very well. With him scoring a fifty and Morgan hitting at the end, KKR reached near 150 but not beyond that.”
“And then Mumbai Indians taught everyone how to chase a target. If you are the boss you want to show how the boss is actually. There was no competition at all, it was a one-sided contest.”
In IPL 2020, Kolkata Knight Riders face SunRisers Hyderabad next while Mumbai Indians face Kings XI Punjab in the same day later in the evening.