Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper, Virat Kohli was seen showering praises on Dinesh Karthik after the latter’s magnificent form in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 that helped RCB to register another crucial win, this time against Delhi Capitals by 16 runs on Saturday. Kohli has also said this is Karthik’s best version since IPL 2013. So far in six innings, Karthik was dismissed only once and he has amassed 197 runs already at a stupendous strike rate of 209.57.
Dinesh Karthik smashed 66 not out off 34 balls, laced with five sixes and as many fours, and it helped his side beat DC. Karthik was fittingly judged Player of the Match for his valiant efforts. In a video posted on the IPL website, Virat Kohli was seen interviewing Karthik after the DC match. Kohli thanked Karthik for guiding RCB to a challenging total after they were reduced to 92/5 against the DC. The former RCB skipper also claimed that it has been Karthik’s best IPL season since 2013.
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In the video, Virat Kohli said, “I am here with the man of the moment, ‘Man of the IPL’ for me so far. It’s been wonderful. I won’t even say ‘long may it continue’ because it will and you’re in that of space and I can see that. It was an honor to watch you bat again. Thanks for getting us across the line. This is the best I have seen you bat since IPL 2013.”
Dinesh Karthik, who last played for India at the 2019 World Cup, then said that he had set a long-term and a short-term goal to make an India comeback in the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to be taking place in Australia later this year.
Explaining the same, Dinesh Karthik said, “There is a small term goal and there’s a bigger vision as well. The small-term goal is to obviously do very well for RCB. I think credit to the RCB backroom staff. The day I got picked Sanjay bhai (Bangar) called me and said ‘DK you’ll be playing the finisher’s role’. We have lost out on AB, we can’t replace him with anybody half as good. We need 2-3 players to do that role’. He is that good.”
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He further added, “Then I took it upon myself to figure out that ‘okay, this is what I want to do’. “The bigger vision is that I want to play for the country. I know there is a World Cup around the corner. I want to be part of that World Cup desperately and help India cross that line.”
With four wins from six matches, the RCB is now standing at third place on the points table. They will next meet Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Tuesday (April 19) at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai.
