IPL 2019: Knight Riders ended up ‘10-15 runs short’, admits Dinesh Karthik

The team could have bowled better against Delhi Capitals, too, according to the Knight Riders captain.

Published : Apr 13, 2019 17:30 IST , Kolkata

Dinesh Karthik at the post-match press conference in Kolkata on Friday night. Photo: Sportzpics/BCCI
Dinesh Karthik at the post-match press conference in Kolkata on Friday night. Photo: Sportzpics/BCCI
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Dinesh Karthik at the post-match press conference in Kolkata on Friday night. Photo: Sportzpics/BCCI

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Dinesh Karthik admitted his team fell “10-15 runs short” of an ideal total in its contest against Delhi Capitals on Friday.

“We knew that we needed to get a big total but we ended up getting probably 10-15 runs short. Eden has been one place where the wicket is so true and the outfield being so fast, the boundaries come easily. So here you have to get a score which is about five-10 runs more than par on other grounds,” Karthik said after his team’s seven-wicket defeat here.

Report | Seven-wicket win for Delhi Capitals

Knight Riders could have bowled better, too, felt Karthik. “We were definitely not a bowler short for sure [despite the absence of Sunil Narine]. We had more options like Carlos [Brathwaite]. We were a few runs short and could have bowled a little better. I expected our bowlers to perform better but that did not turn out to be. Such things happen in a game of cricket,” Karthik.

Narine missed

Narine’s absence was felt, revealed Karthik. “[Narine] brings in a bit of batting and bowling. Most of all, he’s experienced with a cool head that always helps. It really makes a difference. Narine has been someone who’s given us a good start whenever he’s got an opportunity,” he said.

In Narine’s absence, Shubman Gill opened the innings. Gill responded by scoring a 39-ball 65. Praising Gill for his knock, Karthik said, “Today Shubman used the opportunity and done really well. It shows his class as player. He’s able to stay calm under pressure situations, which is a very unique skill to have. He has delivered for us over and over again.”

Read | Shikhar Dhawan one of the best openers in the world, says Sourav Ganguly

Clarifying his position in the batting order, Karthik said, “He realises that whenever there’s an opportunity he will be send up the order. If not, he’s pretty okay batting at No. 6 [or No. 7] and finishing off games whenever he gets the opportunity. I think we’ve been very straightforward with him and he appreciates that.”

‘Very good pitch’

Karthik felt the pitch at the Eden Gardens wasn’t different from the previous two matches featuring Knight Riders. “It was pretty similar. I don’t think there’s too much of a difference. It is a very good pitch. I don’t know if they read the pitch better. Obviously both the teams read the pitch normally. There was nothing different we could have done,” Karthik said.

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Shubman Gill en route to his 65 on Friday. Photo: Sportzpics/BCCI
 

Looking ahead to his team’s next challenge — against Chennai Super Kings — Karthik said, “Obviously it’s a big game. They’re a good team. Two good teams playing against each other will be a good game. That’s the beauty of IPL you win two on the trot and you lose two out of two. These things happen. It’s about how balanced you can stay as a team.”

Knight Riders is hit by a bout of flu. Opener Chris Lynn was absent from the contest against Capitals due to it, and Karthik revealed he, too, is under the weather. “I’m also down with a bit of a fever and flu. I’ve also not feeling well since yesterday,” Karthik said.

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