IPL 2019 News: Dinesh Karthik confident of KKR’s new additions for this season

Dinesh Karthik confident of KKR’s new additions: The Knight Riders’ skipper wasn’t concerned by the changes made to the squad.

Since his ODI comeback after three years in 2017, wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik has scored 425 runs in 20 matches at an average of 47.22 and a strike rate of 75.22 including a couple of half-centuries. Since the Asia Cup last year, Karthik has scored 221 runs at an average of 44.20 and a strike rate of 78.64.

Karthik is in a phase where his immediate future is dependent on someone else’s performance. With the future surrounding the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, he can’t ignore the proceedings.

Having said that, he can’t do much about it either for it is something out of his control now. When things were in his control, Karthik did his best in whatever opportunities he got in the lower middle-order in the Indian ODI squad.

In such a situation, the imminent season of the Indian Premier League seems to give him a different perspective of the game. Leading Kolkata Knight Riders for the second season, Karthik spoke against setting goals but laid emphasis on putting the best foot forward come IPL 2019 from March 23.

“Not somebody who sets goals”

“I am not somebody who sets goals. For some strange reason, it is not something I have enjoyed doing. Though I think if we can go out there and put our best foot on the park and the best we can I will be very happy,” Karthik was quoted as saying to the reporters on the sidelines of Mayor’s Cup in Kolkata.

Finishing third on the points table last year, Knight Riders had failed to make it to the finals. However, they would be pleased with their effort considering their young squad. With the franchise buying some experienced overseas players for IPL 2019, Karthik believes that the squad is ‘well-rounded’ now.

“We are slightly different to the team we had last year so we are really looking forward to it as a team. We have realised what we lacked last year and we have added resources accordingly so we are a more well-rounded team this year,” he said.

“I will miss Kolkata”

Much like any other franchise, Kolkata also face the possibility of losing some of their home games due to the General Elections happening in the nation this year. Being asked about the same, Karthik admitted that he will miss the home ground and the home crowd.

“I will miss Kolkata [in such a situation] because there is a certain vibe, certain energy when we play at the Eden. Playing in front 60,000 cheering for you makes a massive difference,” the 33-year old concluded.