Former India player Karn Sharma, a multiple IPL winner, commented on the controversy that had erupted after the IPL 2024 match between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and RCB at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru as well. RCB were struggling at the bottom of the table after the first half of the season but turned things around dramatically by winning six games in a row and qualifying for the playoffs as well.
Their final league game was against CSK at home, where they won a thrilling contest by 27 runs in a virtual qualifier too. Having pulled off an unbelievable playoff qualification, they had an intense celebration after the game. Many criticised the team for not waiting to shake hands with MS Dhoni as well.
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“There was nothing like that. It was a very big achievement for us, from winning only one game out of six and then winning six in a row to qualify. It is obvious that the celebration would be slightly over the top. There was no rift as such, and we could not meet MS Dhoni at that time because we were celebrating, but after that everyone went to the dressing room and met Dhoni,” he said during an interview with Revsportz. “It is nothing like how it was shown outside. It got a bit late, but everyone met him. If you take 10-12 minutes instead of two minutes, obviously no one will wait for you at that moment, but there was no rift at all.”
Karn Sharma also played for CSK, winning the IPL trophy twice with them in 2018 and 2021 as well. He opened up on skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, praising him for his journey in the league and his performances as well.
“Gaikwad was a very good batter right from the start. He was scoring runs in domestic cricket as well. Someone who plays in the IPL only does after having done something. He got the last three games and scored fifties in all, and the rest is history. It is not easy playing in the IPL. CSK picked him as he had done well in domestic cricket. Sometimes it happens that your team does not click, but he has worked on things, and when he got to bat at his actual position thereafter, he dominated,” he said.
“Dismissing Kane Williamson was important. He was batting on 47 and was set. I have also played a lot with him and seen him. He always wants to dominate a bowler on the first ball. So I had that in mind, and that’s why I knew he would look to charge at me. So that’s why I bowled that first ball slightly wide, and it turned, and I got that wicket,” Karn Sharma concluded.
