IPL 2018: Winning 4 Games on a Row Feels Good - Dinesh Karthik

Kolkata Knight Riders progressed to the Qualifier 2 of IPL 2018 after their emphatic 25-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator, and the hosts’ captain, Dinesh Karthik was all but happy with the win.

Having won the toss, Rajasthan Royals captain, Ajinkya Rahane asked Kolkata Knight Riders to bat first. The Royals bowlers were on their mark from the very start. Despite conceding boundary off the very first ball, Gowtham managed to dismiss dangerous Sunil Narine on the second ball of the innings.

Robin Uthappa and Nitish Rana also fell cheaply. Chris Lynn soon dismissed, and Kolkata Knight Riders were three down inside the Powerplay.

However, young Shubman Gill rose to the occasion and did not get intimidated by an in-form Rajasthan bowling attack.

He complemented captain Dinesh Karthik quite well in the middle overs, as the duo went on to make a 55-run partnership. Once Gill was dismissed, both Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell upped the ante and increased the scoring rate.

Their power hitting in the slog overs had helped Kolkata Knight Riders reach a par score of 169/7 at the end of their innings.

Rajasthan Makes Mockery Out of Run chase

Asked to chase 170 on an Eden Gardens wicket, Rajasthan Royals openers Ajinkya Rahane and Rahul Tripathi have got off their blocks quickly. They managed to get some quick runs for Royals inside the powerplay overs.

But once Tripathi got dismissed, the spin trio of Narine, Kuldeep and Piyush Chawla got their grip on the game.

They did not leak any free runs and kept scoring quite low. It helped Kolkata get Rahane’s wicket in 15th over. Soon after, in form Sanju Samson also succumbed in search of quick runs.

The batsmen following could not cope up to the pace of the wicket, as Rajasthan disappointed very badly in the final overs. It meant Kolkata quite easily went on to win the game at the end. Speaking after the game, Dinesh Karthik said,

“I think winning 4 games on the row feels good. Credit to Shubman Gill. He played some lovely shots and eased the pressure of me. In these kind of crunch games, it is never about the par score. Touchwood, the bowlers have picked up their game. We fielded well as well today. They (RR) always think out of the box. You need to hold your game and nerves. Every game is important from here on.”