RCB’s Dinesh Karthik performs a shot in the course of the IPL 2024 match between towards CSK on the MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai, on March 22, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik is pleased about getting some runs within the IPL opener despite restricted recreation and preparation time going into the event due to his commentary commitments.
Since the final IPL, the one aggressive cricket Karthik performed was within the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
He was on air within the just lately concluded India-England Test collection and admitted discovering coaching time in between his commentary duties was powerful.
Karthik, who’s taking part in his final IPL, made an unbeaten 38 off 26 balls to assist RCB recuperate to 173 for six towards CSK on Friday evening. By his personal admission, he was rusty within the center.
“It’s been extremely challenging, doing a bit of commentary and to keep practising cricket between Test matches and in between the time that I get, it’s been a lot of hard work.
“So, I’m joyful that Game 1 has gone positively for me, and it feels good to rating some runs,” Karthik told reporters after the game.
The 38-year-old is hoping that play-offs happen at his home ground here and he can return to Chepauk to play his last IPL game.
“Time will inform, I suppose. I genuinely want it is not as a result of the final couple of (playoff) video games will probably be right here, so I could possibly be again for that, which may then be my final (right here),” he said when asked if it could be last game in Chennai.
Defending champions CSK was able to chase down 174 comfortably on a good batting track. CSK pacer Mustafizur Rahman produced his best IPL figures of 4-29 to make the difference.
Karthik was all praise for the left-arm pacer from Bangladesh.
“He bowled brilliantly. He confirmed his expertise in all of the three spells,” he reckoned.
“He is bowling rather a lot faster than he usually does and hits the proper lengths. The slower balls got here out properly. It was an excellent pitch. Not the same old gradual Chepauk turner that we’re visualising in our thoughts.
“The ball skid on a lot more, and it was good for batting, and he (Rahman) bowled well. What makes it tough is that he can bowl at 138/139 (kmph), and then he has a slower one, which is very deceptive. And he bowls it at 121/125 (km/h), which makes it hard to line him up.
‘People can see how much talent Anuj has’
For RCB, Anuj Rawat was the top scorer with 48 and his 95-run stand with Karthik allowed the team to post a fighting total.
“I could not be happier for him. He has been part of this group for 2 years, and other people can see how a lot expertise he has. The ball flies off his bat. He has bought nice bat pace and is a powerful boy. He works exhausting on the nets,” said Karthik.
“The final two years have not precisely panned out. Last 12 months, he confirmed in direction of the top how good he’s, however at present (Friday), he confirmed what expertise he has bought.
“I just wish he keeps continuing this form because he is a key player for us. A left-arm hander through the middle and hits the long ball with a lot of power. So, it’s great to see him do so well,” he added.
