Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star Dinesh Karthik has emerged as the most destructive batter in IPL 2022. Playing the finisher’s role more often than not, he has amassed 287 runs in 14 matches at more than 57 apiece and a staggering strike rate of 192.57.
During an interview with the ICC Review Show, he was asked which young Indian seamer has impressed him the most in the ongoing IPL. To which, the wicketkeeper-batter took the names of Arshdeep Singh, Mohsin Khan, and Yash Dayal.
Arshdeep was part of India's winning ICC Men's U19 World Cup side in 2018. In IPL 2022, while playing for Punjab Kings (PBKS), Singh grabbed 10 wickets in 13 games, besides an extraordinary performance in the slog overs with an economy rate of 7.14.
“(I have been impressed by) Arshdeep Singh because he has been so good at the death, I think he has bowled some lovely yorkers and has a lot of control. Even though they have a world-class bowler (Kagiso Rabada) in their lineup, at times, he has stood up for them solely with the ball and I enjoy that about him," said Karthik.
Mohsin Khan of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) has been a late bloomer in the league, taking 13 wickets in eight games at a low economy rate of 5.93.
“He got picked late in the tournament but he is making sure when he bowls, the heavy ball that he bowls…he has bowled some brilliant spells. He has consistently bowled at less than six runs an over, and he has been really impressive with his slower ball as well," Dinesh Karthik said.
Despite only appearing in six games for Gujarat Titans, Yash Dayal has taken nine wickets at an economy rate of 9.38. He was the net bowler for India during the Kanpur Test against New Zealand late last year and was also a reserve bowler for the ODI series against the West Indies when there was a Covid-19 outbreak in the Indian camp.
“He has been a terrific find. He has been able to move the ball both ways with the new ball and I enjoy that about him," said the 36-year-old.
With the advent of young Indian pacers being a major subject in the ongoing IPL, Karthik believes that the country's modern-day fast bowlers have established themselves apart from their predecessors.
“I think bowling 140-plus in the past was a novelty. Now it has become a very common thing. There are almost three Indian fast bowlers in all the 10 IPL franchises bowling 140-plus." he said.
Speed has become a "huge" factor, according to the Royal Challengers star, and having so many high-quality seamers makes the tournament so competitive.
“One person (Umran Malik) has bowled 157 — that is some serious pace. Speed has become a major factor and once they have got that, the other skills that are required to become a better bowler, they start working on, they start improving on it and they become better bowlers. That’s what makes the tournament so competitive and so beautiful to watch."
(IANS INPUTS)
