IPL 2018: KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik Bats for VJD Method in the T20 League

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper, Dinesh Karthik has recommended for the domestic VJD method in place of Duckworth Lewis System (D/L) for the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Meanwhile, Kolkata suffered a nine-wicket loss to Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in a rain-marred encounter.

Batting first, KKR posted a decent 191 banking on Chris Lynn’s 41 balls 74. Karthik and Robin Uthappa also provided good support. However, KXIP bowled tightly in the death overs to restrict the total within 200.

However, Chris Gayle and KL Rahul provided the visitors with a blistering start. The duo added 116 runs for the first wicket on either side of a rain break. However, Punjab chased the DLS revised total of 125 in 11.1 overs.

Karthik lauds Rahul

Karthik praised Rahul highly and admitted that he played a fabulous knock decorated with lovely shots.

“It’s a bad day and not Chris Gayle’s day. I’d say it is not a Chris Gayle’s day because the way KL also played, I think he played beautifully as well. He kind of played some lovely shots and it isn’t generally that it is a Chris Gayle’s day that he is the only one scoring. KL also played a fabulous knock,” Karthik said at the post-match conference.

Talking about Andre Russell’s hamstring injury, Karthik revealed he is okay now, however, he didn’t talk with him.

The wicket-keeper batsman also added there was no special strategy in place of Gayle.

“He has scored runs in every game. So there is no pattern I’d say that the teams have found out yet. He is batting really well and you got to accept that,” he added.

Karthik backs the domestic VJD method

Karthik also spoke about the DLS method being hard to understand. Instead, he backed the domestic DLS method for the T20 league.

”We needed two wickets at that stage and then you start putting pressure on them. It was important to get Gayle and KL early, but they played some good shots and got away. When the rain stopped (the play) they needed 8 runs an over but after the DLS they came back and it was like six runs an over or run a ball, it was really surprising. I am sure DLS has been something that people are trying to figure out it is,” Karthik mentioned.

“I always thought that the VJD is an Indian method and it’s an Indian domestic tournament so why not think about it in the future. It’s been proven that it is also a really good method, we use it in the domestic tournament only for IPL we seem to use DLS. So why not think of VJD method here and promote it,” he concluded.

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