Cricket

Dinesh Karthik's resurgence has been a pivotal factor in Royal Challengers Bangalore's remarkable turnaround in IPL 2023. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter has amassed 315 runs at a blistering strike rate of 195.65, his best performance in 17 seasons.Karthik attributes the team's success to a shift in mindset after a disappointing start. "The SRH game was a turning point," he said. "We came back strongly with the bat, which gave us confidence."The freedom to play without pressure has also been a key factor. "We had nothing to lose, so why not do things differently?" Karthik explained. "But you have to back that up with skill."Karthik's off-field efforts have also contributed to his success. "I've gotten fitter and stronger," he said. "I also had to overcome the skepticism surrounding my return as a commentator."Commentary has had a positive impact on Karthik's cricket. "It's taught me not to take criticism too seriously," he said. "It's also increased my worldly knowledge and self-esteem."Karthik's motivation stems from a desire to prove himself. "I wanted to respond to the questions that were asked," he said. "I've done what I've done today."Despite his success, Karthik remains uncertain about his future. "I don't want to think too far ahead," he said. "But if RCB goes all the way, I might play one more year."

RCB Shifts Strategy to Aggressive Approach, Eyes PlayoffsRoyal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has undergone a strategic shift, moving away from a "softer option" to a more assertive approach in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). This change has been instrumental in the team's resurgence, as they aim to make a strong impact in the remaining matches and secure a spot in the IPL 2024 playoffs.Star wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik highlighted the team's new mindset, emphasizing the importance of aggressive tactics and a fighting spirit. "Earlier we were taking the softer option with the bat, but we are taking the harder option now," Karthik said. "We are trying to put the pressure on the bowlers."This shift has been evident in RCB's recent performances, where they have registered three consecutive wins. The team's bowlers have been particularly impressive, bowling in good areas and taking on batters up front. The batters, too, have been more proactive, putting pressure on the opposition bowlers and taking calculated risks.Karthik acknowledged that RCB still has a long way to go, but he expressed confidence in the team's ability to maintain their momentum. "We have reached that stage where we have to win every game," he said. "We need to try and repeat things we have been doing well."RCB's new approach is a reflection of their determination to outperform competitors and achieve greater success in the tournament. The team, known for its passionate fanbase and talented roster, is keen on turning around their fortunes and making a mark in the IPL.

Dinesh Karthik, the veteran wicketkeeper-batter, has emerged as a crucial cog in Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) resurgence in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. After a disappointing season last year, Karthik has rediscovered his form, proving his worth as a reliable finisher in the twilight of his IPL career.In RCB's nail-biting victory over Gujarat Titans on Saturday, Karthik played a pivotal role in rescuing his team from the brink of defeat. Chasing a modest target of 148, RCB found themselves in a precarious position at 117/6, with Noor Ahmad and Joshua Little wreaking havoc with the ball.However, Karthik's unbeaten 21 off just 12 deliveries proved to be the difference-maker. His quickfire knock, which included two boundaries and a six, kept RCB's playoff hopes alive.Speaking after the match, Karthik revealed an amusing anecdote about his mindset during the chase. "I started with a tea, then after four overs, I had a cappuccino, thinking I might not have to bat," he said. "But then these things happened, and I had to bat."Karthik's innings was a testament to his experience and composure under pressure. With Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli providing a solid foundation with a 92-run opening partnership, Karthik was initially content to relax in the dressing room.However, the collapse that followed forced him to reassess the situation. He entered the fray with the team in dire straits but remained unfazed, guiding RCB to a crucial victory alongside Swapnil Singh.Karthik's resurgence has been a major boost for RCB, who have now won three consecutive matches to climb to seventh in the standings. The 38-year-old's ability to finish games with aplomb has made him an invaluable asset for the team.With IPL 2024 likely to be his last in the tournament, Karthik is determined to make the most of his opportunity. His performances so far suggest that he is still a force to be reckoned with, even in the twilight of his career.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) showcased their resilience and depth in a thrilling encounter against Gujarat Titans, successfully chasing down a 147-run target with 38 balls to spare. The victory was set up by an explosive start from Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli, who registered the franchise's second-fastest fifty off 18 balls.Du Plessis, known for his aggressive batting, smashed the ball to all corners of the ground, while Kohli provided crucial support. Together, they propelled RCB to their highest Powerplay score of 92 in IPL history. However, a dramatic turn of events saw RCB lose momentum, slipping from 92/1 to 111/5.Undeterred, Kohli anchored the innings, losing partners but holding one end firmly. Dinesh Karthik's arrival provided much-needed support, and despite Kohli's dismissal, Karthik kept his calm and targeted Rashid Khan to regain control.With Swapnil Singh also contributing crucial runs, RCB's resilience shone through as they successfully chased down the target. Veteran batter Karthik, who initially thought he wouldn't bat, gave full credit to Kohli and du Plessis for the victory."I started with a cup of tea, then after four overs I had a cappuccino and thought I wouldn't be batting," Karthik said. "Things happened, and then I had to have a bat."Karthik highlighted the importance of basic cricketing skills and backed himself to get the job done. He also praised the bowlers for their performance and advised Swapnil Singh to play for the one that comes in and commit to his shots.RCB's victory showcased their ability to overcome adversity and the depth of their batting lineup. The team's resilience and determination will be crucial as they aim to make a strong run in the IPL.

Yuvraj Singh, the former Indian cricketer and ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador, has expressed his admiration for Dinesh Karthik's performance with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. However, he believes that the experienced wicketkeeper should only be included in India's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup if he is assured a place in the starting lineup."DK (Karthik) has been batting well, but the thing with DK is the last time (2022) they picked him and the T20 WC was on he didn't get to play," Yuvraj said.Yuvraj emphasized that if Karthik is not going to be a part of the playing XI, there is little point in selecting him for the squad. He pointed out that there are other talented wicketkeepers like Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson, who are both in excellent form and are also younger than Karthik."If DK is not in your XI I don't think there is any point in picking him. There is Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson and both guys are in great form and obviously they are younger. I would like to see DK in the mix, but if he is not going to play then you would rather have someone who is younger and can make the difference," added the former T20 World Cup winner.Dinesh Karthik has been in impressive form in the ongoing IPL 2024 season. Despite batting lower down the order for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he has scored 262 runs in nine matches. As a result, his significant contributions have sparked discussions about his potential inclusion in India's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup.Yuvraj's comments come as India prepares for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which will be held in the United States from June 9th to July 1st. India is one of the favorites to win the tournament, and Yuvraj believes that Karthik could be a valuable addition to the squad if he is given a clear role."If he is going to be in the XI and he is going to play, then I think he is a great option. But if he is not going to play, then I think you have to look at other options," Yuvraj said.The final decision on whether or not to include Karthik in India's squad for the T20 World Cup will be made by the selectors. However, Yuvraj's comments are likely to be taken into consideration, as he is one of the most experienced and successful cricketers in India's history.

Dinesh Karthik's Missed Singles Cost RCB Dearly in Narrow IPL Defeat, Says Harbhajan SinghFormer India spinner Harbhajan Singh has criticized Dinesh Karthik's decision to decline singles in the final over of Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) narrow one-run defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).RCB appeared poised for victory after Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar forged a century partnership. However, Karthik's reluctance to take singles proved costly, as he ultimately fell to Andre Russell on the final ball of the over."I feel DK was a very important player in this match," Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel. "Karn (Sharma) came in and struck three sixes, while they were batting Karthik missed two to three singles and I feel that it proved costly for RCB."Harbhajan believes that Karthik's missed singles could have made a significant difference in the outcome of the match. "If he had taken those singles then maybe this situation wouldn't have unfolded," he said. "They only needed one run, small things matter."RCB skipper Faf du Plessis had won the toss and elected to field first. Phil Salt's explosive 48 in 14 balls gave KKR a strong start, but wickets fell regularly at the other end. Shreyas Iyer (50), Rinku Singh (24), Andre Russell (27*), and Ramandeep Singh (24*) contributed valuable runs to take KKR to 222/6.RCB lost Virat Kohli (18) and du Plessis (7) early, but Jacks (55) and Patidar (52) revived their hopes with a 102-run partnership. However, their efforts proved insufficient as Karthik's missed singles ultimately cost RCB the match.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) emerged victorious in a nail-biting one-run thriller against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on Sunday. The match reached its climax in the final over, where RCB needed 21 runs to win.Andre Russell dismissed Dinesh Karthik on the final ball of the 19th over, leaving RCB in a precarious position. However, Karn Sharma reignited their hopes with three consecutive sixes off Mitchell Starc, who had been acquired by KKR for a hefty Rs 24.75 crore.The drama continued as Starc dismissed Sharma on the penultimate delivery, giving KKR a glimmer of hope. RCB required three runs off the final ball, but Lockie Ferguson was run out before completing the second run, handing KKR a thrilling victory.The final over unfolded as follows:* 19.1: Sharma smashed Starc's first ball for a six over deep backward point.* 19.2: Sharma survived a close call after getting an inside edge, but the ball bounced just in front of the wicket-keeper.* 19.3: Sharma added another six to his tally, reading Starc's line perfectly and hitting the ball over deep extra cover.* 19.4: Sharma continued his onslaught with a third six, this time over deep backward point.* 19.5: Starc struck for KKR as Sharma played the shot straight back at the bowler, who completed a low catch.* 19.6: Ferguson and Mohammed Siraj ran for the final ball, but Ramandeep Singh's quick throw and Phil Salt's alert stumping sealed the victory for KKR.KKR's victory was a testament to their resilience and determination, while RCB's defeat was a heartbreaking end to a valiant effort.

Dinesh Karthik Predicts 300-Run Mark to Fall in IPL, Highlights Evolving Batting StandardsVeteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has expressed his belief that the 300-run barrier will be breached in the Indian Premier League (IPL) sooner rather than later. Karthik's prediction comes amidst the ongoing 17th edition of the IPL, which has witnessed a surge in high-scoring matches.The current highest total in the IPL stands at 287/3, set by Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, Karthik believes that this record will be surpassed soon, citing the evolving batting standards in the league."The ceiling is constantly getting reworked and they're pushing it much higher," Karthik said. "The number of 250s in the first 32 matches of the tournament has been the highest ever in the history of any tournament that's played across the world in this format."Karthik attributes this batting resurgence to the impact player rule, which has allowed teams to bolster their batting depth. "You're batting much deeper, which puts that much more pressure on the bowlers," he explained. "The freedom to keep playing shots has liberated a lot of the young boys who are out there and they're all playing some phenomenal shots."The standard of batting in the IPL has grown exponentially over the past 17 years, according to Karthik. "It is unreal how well it's grown," he said.Despite Royal Challengers Bangalore's recent struggles, Karthik remains optimistic about their playoff chances. "The belief is definitely there," he said. "If there's no belief there is no point playing a tournament like IPL."Karthik emphasized the importance of finding form for the team's batters. "You need a lot of characters and players who are consistently doing well and the players who have not started doing well to find form," he said. "And when you get a few players firing then the sky is the limit for you."Despite their string of defeats, Karthik believes that Royal Challengers Bangalore remains a close-knit unit. "The team is very closely knit as a unit," he said. "The best part about it is that Virat is such a good leader that he's doing all that he can to propel the team, keep it in good spirits."

Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, who has been in phenomenal form in this IPL, has not given up on his dream to play for India again and would do "everything he can to be in that flight" to the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies next month. Karthik, who will turn 39 by the time the World Cup kickstarts on June 1, was also part of the last edition of the T20I World Cup in Australia in 2022, which was also his last appearance for Team India. Since then he has become an off-the-field cricket expert, involved in commentary stints.Returning to IPL this season, he has taken his batting to a new level and displayed some astonishing power-hitting to strike at a rate of 205-plus. He is also the third leading run-getter for RCB with 226 runs, behind Virat Kohli (361) and skipper Faf du Plessis (232)."At this stage in my life, it would be the greatest feeling for me to represent India. I'm very, very keen to do so. There is nothing bigger in my life other than representing India in this T20 World Cup," the RCB wicketkeeper-batters said ahead of clash against KKR.With Karthik's also emerging as a contender, the wicketkeeper slot will be a hotly-contested one for which the Team India think tank may pick two at the most. Making a comeback from a near-fatal accident, Rishabh Pant has also showed positive intent while captaining Delhi Capitals, and Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals), Ishan Kishan (Mumbai Indians), KL Rahul (Lucknow Super Giants) are also in the fray.Karthik said he would respect whatever the Big Three -- coach Rahul Dravid, captain Rohit Sharma and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar -- decide. "I also feel there are three very, very stable, honest people who are at the helm to decide what should be the best Indian team for the World Cup -- Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar. And I'm completely with them. I respect any decision that they take. But all I can say is I'm 100 per cent ready, and I'll do everything I can to be on that flight to the World Cup."