IPL 2018: Dinesh Karthik Confident of Getting the Best Out of KKR

Dec 23, 2018 at 10:57 AM

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IPL 2018: Dinesh Karthik Confident of Getting the Best Out of KKR

The newly appointed Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Dinesh Karthik is quite aware of the fact that he has to fill the shoes of a very successful Gautam Gambhir under whom KKR won two titles.

Once in 2012 and the other time in 2014. However, Karthik is confident of the fact he has it in him to steer KKR and get the best out of his side.

KKR decided against retaining Gambhir for the 11th edition of the tournament and decided to hand over the reign to Dinesh Karthik who hasn’t led any franchise in the past.

“What Gautam Gambhir has achieved for KKR is phenomenal. He’s left a benchmark,” Karthik said after joining KKR on the sidelines of a jersey launch.

Despite Karthik’s inexperience as a skipper, he is one of the most experienced customers in the tournament.

Karthik had earlier played for the Royal Challenger Bangalore, Mumbai Indians. Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Daredevils and Gujarat Lions in the previous seasons.

“Being a leader of the team, the management will expect from me the same. I’m aware of the expectations. Yes, there would be pressure. As a captain, you’re expected to at least go to the playoffs, that’s the least anybody can expect. I think I’m at a stage where I can handle it and get the best out of the team,” he said.

It was a sensational inning from the blade of Karthik in the final of the Nidahas Trophy which helped the Men in Blue seal a thrilling encounter. He smashed a last-ball six off Soumya Sarkar to win the match for the Men in Blue.

“It’s been close to 10 days now since that innings, things have moved on, people have moved on. We have a new bunch of boys. It was a great game as I’ve said. When we play Bangladesh, it’s a different kind of pressure.If you win, you are like ‘okay you’ve won’, but if you lose it’s like ‘wake up, what you doing’ types.

“We had a good start; it dipped in the middle. I just had to hit boundaries when I got in. I was lucky on that day. We had a good season, and for us not win that game would not have been nice to end the series. It was a great feeling.”

Dinesh Karthik of India bats during the 2nd One Day International match between India and New Zealand held at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on 25th October 2017
Photo by Deepak Malik / BCCI / SPORTZPICS

He also resented to the fact that he might have to push himself up the order when they kick off their IPL campaign against the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Eden Gardens.

“Obviously I will bat at a different position than what I did in the Indian game. IPL is about dealing with the tricky situation, handling pressure. It’s just a week to go, and I don’t think I will treat myself any differently. Everybody is here to do their best, and I’m no different. Everybody has a role to play,” he said.

It is a huge honour for Karthik to lead the two-time champions but his wife Dipika Pallikal is an eyeing a  2nd gold at the Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast.

While Karthik will be busy with his IPL assignment, his wife and India’s squash ace Dipika Pallikal is eyeing a second gold at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

“One thing I’ve learnt from her is a lot of determination. She’s worked really hard especially for the CWG. Four years back she won gold in Glasgow. As a player, the most important thing is to be able to repeat it and be consistent. She’ worked really hard in the last four years to get a gold again. She’s already in Gold coast. It’s very important two weeks in her life,” he said.

Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, India, Bangladesh, Nidahas Trophy 2018
Dinesh Karthik was sensational with the willow. Photo Credit: AFP.

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