With the Australian and England players’ availability for the remainder of the IPL 2021 remains doubtful given the packed international schedule, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is among the franchisees that would be most affected by their overseas stars’ absence when the tournament resumes in the UAE.
The IPL 2021 was suspended last month after several COVID-19 cases inside the bio-bubble and now the BCCI announced to complete the rest of the 31 matches in the UAE in the September-October window, but the availability of the overseas cricketers is a big challenge for the board and the franchisees as well.
Recently, KKR wicketkeeper-batsman and their former captain Dinesh Karthik confirmed that Australian speedster Pat Cummins will not be returning for the second phase of the IPL 14 in the UAE, while the English players including current captain Eoin Morgan are in doubt to travel for the event.
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As England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has already said that they won’t release their players for the second phase of IPL 2021 in the UAE, Karthik has made himself available for captaincy duty, saying he will be ready to lead the KKR again if the need arises, but there is still a lot of time to decide things.
Karthik told Times of India on Thursday (June 3): “Pat Cummins has himself said that he will not come. But when it comes to Eoin Morgan, there are still three months to go. A lot can change from now till September. But if I am asked to lead, I will be ready for it.”
The 36-year-old is also aiming to have a good IPL 14 in order to be back in the reckoning for the Indian cricket team for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in India later this year. He added, “India needs a batsman in the middle-order who can be a finisher and I believe I can do that job.”
The right-hander is now more focusing on white-ball cricket, but the veteran cricketer has insisted that he hasn't made a call on his red-ball career.
Karthik signed off by saying, “There are no indications yet that Ranji Trophy will be played this year. If it is played, I will take a call then.”
(With TOI Inputs)
