Veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik lavished praise on Mitchell Starc after the Australian pacer wreaked havoc on India’s batting line-up to guide his team to a series-leveling 10-wicket win in the second ODI at the YS Raja Reddy Stadium in Vizag on Sunday (March 19).
Karthik described Starc as the best bowler in the world in the limited-overs format after the left-arm pacer picked up a five-wicket haul to help Australia beat Team India by 10 wickets in the second ODI.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik said: “Imagine Suryakumar Yadav, I feel for him, two first-balls, I'm sure a lot of people will be saying, 'Oh, he's not making use of his opportunities'. It's not true. To get out first ball means you are out before you're set. It can happen to anybody.”
He added, “He (Starc) is arguably the best white-ball bowler in the world right now. To come and receive such balls first up, it's hard. You put anybody there, more often than not, they will get out first ball. We need to cut some slack for batters who get out to quality left-farmers.”
Karthik also mentioned that India does not have a left-arm pacer of Starc and Shaheen Afridi’s caliber, and that is an area of concern for the side in limited-overs cricket.
He signed off by saying, “The skill has goes behind Shaheen Afridi, Trent Boult, Mitchell Starc is different boss. If the bowler had the skill, he would be playing for India! Why would he be bowling in the nets? It is not an easy skill. Add to that, you’re playing international cricket, and it's a different ball game.”
