Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Faf du Plessis praised Dinesh Karthik for his heroics after the 27th Match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Mumbai.
RCB defeated DC by 16 runs to register their fourth win of the season. The Du Plessis-led side now has 8 points to their name and are placed third on the points table.
Asked to bat first, RCB suffered a collapse upfront as they lost the top three in Anuj Rawat (0), Faf du Plessis (8) and Virat Kohli (12) for just 40 runs. Glenn Maxwell then rescued his side’s innings with a brutal fifty but after his wicket, RCB were left tottering at 92/5.
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The game then witnessed Dinesh Karthik’s special talent. The keeper-batter scored unbeaten 66 runs to help his side post a mammoth total of 189 runs. He was supported well by Shahbaz Ahamad, who scored unbeaten 32 runs. The duo together stitched a 97* partnership and helped their side win the match.
Chasing the target, DC openers Prithvi Shaw (16) and David Warner (66) gave their team a perfect start and scored 50 runs within 5 overs. After both the openers got out, DC was still in a comfortable position. But Mitchell Marsh struggled with his timing and put his side under pressure. He scored 14 runs in 24 balls to leave DC tumbling at 112/3 after 14 overs.
Rovman Powell and Lalit Yadav then followed him back into the pavilion as DC was reduced from 94/2 to 115/5. Skipper Rishabh Pant tried hard but a sensational catch by Virat Kohli saw him back in the hut for 34 runs. Josh Hazlewood started with the ball for RCB and returned with the figures of 28/3 to help his side win their fourth match of the season.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Faf du Plessis said that his side’s top-order needs to take the responsibility and score runs. He lauded Maxwell, Shahbaz and Karthik for their innings.
"I think it is important from a top-order perspective that we contribute runs; we haven't as a top order, but the other guys are doing so. Batting is tricky up front; the way Maxi (Maxwell) put pressure back on them was vital. But to get 190 you needed special innings, and credit goes to the two boys Shahbaz and DK," Faf du Plessis said.
Du Plessis said that it was a top effort from his bowlers, especially after that start that DC got. Calling it a good win for the side, he said that they stuck around and had a special plan for death overs with the ball.
“We felt like we haven't been as good as we would've liked at death bowling, so today we had a special plan. It was pretty wet out there, and with the start they had, many teams would fall away. But we stuck around. A good win," he said.
RCB skipper further lavished rich praise on Dinesh Karthik for his heroics. He said that the keeper-batter is playing the best he has and is very clear, calm and composed.
"Experience is nice because you can trust players when it is going well and when it is not going well. The way DK is playing at the moment, I may sound like a broken record, but he is playing the best he has ever. He is so clear, calm and composed," he said.
RCB will next face Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday (19th April) at DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai.
(IANS Inputs)
