Dinesh Karthik : The Saviour For RCB
The fifteenth edition of the Indian Premier league is being ruled by many superstars with their outstanding performances. RCB's wicketkeeper-batsman, Dinesh Karthik, is among the few players who are in red hot form this season, proving their potential to everyone.
Image credit: Dinesh Karthik Dinesh karthik : Ace finisher
A blunder by picking DK? Surely not!
With the departure of the retired AB de Villiers, Royal Challengers Bangalore needed a finisher to take up the vacant role and finish games prominently for RCB. They had marked the veteran wicket-keeper for the position; however, many criticized the franchise's decision. Some also reckoned that RCB made a blunder by investing in Dinesh Karthik. Many fans and experts as well had doubted this pick. As Karthik is away from the international team, many believe his capability to play and finish matches has faded.
However, in the current season of the league, in 7 innings for RCB, Karthik not only showed that he has still got it- but is now knocking on the national selector's door once again for the spot in India's T20 playing eleven for the upcoming World Cup.
RCB's Guardian!
The raw numbers of Dinesh Karthik this season tell the story in itself! In his seven innings, the wicket-keeper batsman has scored 210 runs with an impressive strike rate of 205.88, which is certainly better than the destructive power hitter Andre Russell. With an unimaginable average of 210, Dinesh Karthik is dominating the bowlers and the league! He has won the man of the match awards twice, which was against Rajasthan Royal and Delhi Capitals. Karthik was tasked with rescuing a top and middle-order collapse in both the matches, which he did sensationally by sealing the victory for RCB! The RCB's finisher has hit the fourth most number of sixes-15 so far this season- behind overseas stars like Jos Buttler, Andre Russell, and Shimron Hetmyer.
Karthik has been a brilliant outing for the franchise throughout the season as he has played impressive knocks in the role of finisher, which the team needed the most. He has been the best batsman for the team where big names like Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, and Glenn Maxwell are not in great form. Karthik is not only giving his best for the franchise but also performing the role of a savior for the team in critical conditions. Karthik has a game-changing ability with his performance recently. No other batter has been this much consistent the way Karthik is! In his seven innings, his scores have been 32*(14), 14*(7), 44*(23), 7*(2), 34(14), 66*(34), and 13*(8). As seen, he has been exceptional not only with runs but also with strike rate giving a significant boost to RCB's total.
Former RCB skipper Virat Kohli was pleased with the way Dinesh Karthik placed his innings and didn't miss out on the opportunity to lionize RCB's clinical finisher. Virat Kohli said, "You mentioned AB, and I think AB will be very proud watching from Pretoria, sitting at home and watching you finish games for us and take the team across the line."
Looking at Karthik's flow, there seems to be no stopping for him! He has not only been consistently rescuing RCB's middle order but also sealing the victory for the team. We might surely see this wicket-keeper batsman making many more miracles in the league and stunning everyone!