Royal Challengers Bangalore veteran batter Dinesh Karthik revealed the team’s head coach Sanjay Bangar told him he was going to him back in the run-chase against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai on Wednesday.
Karthik scored a little cameo of 7-ball 14 to get his team over the line and helped them register their maiden win of the season.
RCB needed seven runs in the final over and the experienced batter hit a six on the first ball of the over, which was bowled by Andre Russell. Karthik then played a straight drive to seal the match for his team.
As Royal Challengers Bangalore lost three wickets for only 17 runs on the board during the run-chase, they decided to push back Karthik in the batting order as they wanted more experience in the tense situation. David Willey batted at number four whereas Shahbaz Ahmed played at number six ahead of Dinesh Karthik in the batting order.
Dinesh Karthik said on RCB YouTube Channel, “A little bit (nervous) definitely. Every game is a new game, every day is a new day. You do feel nervous, you are humans.”
“The coach told me that he will be holding me back. I said ‘okay, whatever the team plans, I am happy. Was looking forward to the opportunity. It’s good it came out well.”
On the other hand, Shahbaz Ahmed scored a crucial cameo of 27 runs off 20 balls with the help of three sixes to bring the required run rate under control. Furthermore, Willey added 45 runs with Sherfane Rutherford. Harshal Patel also made a contribution with the bat as he scored two boundaries in the penultimate over, which was bowled by Venkatesh Iyer.
Ahmed was taken for 16 runs in solitary over he bowled as he was targeted by Andre Russell. The left-hander then smashed the West Indies all-rounder for two sixes but added that it was not about taking revenge.
“It was not a question of revenge. The situation at the time demanded it. Russell was their fifth bowler, so we had to go after him. I whacked him for two big hits, so the contest sort of became equal in the end.”
RCB will next lock horns against Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday.
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