It Was A Pretty Rusty Day To Be Honest: Dinesh Karthik After KKR's 49-Run Defeat To MI

KKR did not get off to the start that they would have liked in their Dream11 IPL 2020 campaign as the two-time winners suffered a 49-run defeat to perennial nemessis, Mumbai Indians, in what turned out to be a pretty one-sided encounter in Abu Dhabi.

KKR were up against it right from the very outset and skipper Dinesh Karthik accepted in the post-match conference that it was a ‘pretty rusty day’ for his side as Mumbai Indians flexed their muscles with disdain to snap their six-match losing streak in the United Arab Emirates.

The win was set-up by MI skipper Rohit Sharma, who en-route to his 54-ball 80, displayed just why he is one of the greatest white-ball batsman of all times. Sharma broke multiple records in the process as he leapfrogged David Warner to become the leading scorer against KKR besides becoming only the second Indian and fourth overall to smash 200 IPL sixes.

Most wins against an opponent in IPL
20 MI vs KKR
17 KKR vs KXIP
17 MI vs CSK
16 MI vs RCB
15 CSK vs DC
15 CSK vs RCB#KKRvMI #IPL2020

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) September 23, 2020

KKR had a pretty ordinary day with the ball. And, it didn’t help that their premier fast bowler in Pat Cummins was smashed all around the park in his three-over spell. Shivam Mavi’s brilliant bowling at the death and Narine’s comeback during the middle-overs paved way for the Knight Riders to restrict MI to 195.

But, the target proved to be a bridge too far for KKR as Jasprit Bumra put on a masterclass of fast bowling. Bumrah gave away 5 runs in his first three overs and effectively killed the contest with double strikes of Andre Russell and Eoin Morgan. His figures took a beating in the last over as Pat Cummins smashed him for 4 sixes but by then the game was well and truly over.

Dinesh Karthik refused to analyze the game in the post-match performance and attributed the performance to his players being rusty.

Also Read- Twitter Reacts After MI Snap Their 6-Match Losing Streak In The UAE With A Commanding 49-Run Win Over KKR

Here’s what Dinesh Karthik said after KKR’s 49-run defeat against MI-

”I think we had areas to do well in bat and ball. I think it was a pretty rusty day to be honest, I don’t want to get too analytical about it but it’s ok the boys realise where they could have done better. Couple of the guys – Cummins and Morgan – just finished their quarantine today, it is hard – playing in the heat and getting used to the conditions. Don’t want to be too analytical, the boys put in a good effort. I haven’t had the conversation about that (regarding tweaking the top order) with Baz, will let you know by the next game,”

The 49-run defeat means KKR have now lost the opening game of the IPL for the first time since 2013. They will now lock horns with SRH in Abu Dhabi on September 26.