IPL 2018: Captaincy Has Changed My Approach Towards a Lot of People - Dinesh Karthik

Ahead of the clash against Delhi Daredevils (DD) at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi on April 27 (Friday), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper, Dinesh Karthik admitted that captaincy has changed his approach while dealing in a more pragmatic manner.

Meanwhile, for Kolkata, it is likely to be picking as the hosts are looking to regain their footing, especially after Gautam Gambir’s tendered resignation as skipper.

However, Karthik, who replaced Gambhir at the helm of Kolkata team has kept his team on course for the playoffs. He stated that it must have been tough for Gambhir before taking the call.

“From Gambhir’s point of view, I can totally understand what he was thinking. It must have been a hard few days before he took the call,” Karthik said.

Show of goodwill:

Kolkata skipper admitted that Delhi is a good team with an equally good skill set. He also believed that it will be a tough contest for both the teams.

“Whether it is a right time to play a team, I don’t think that way,” Karthik said.

“They are a team with good skill sets, and similarly we are…, two good teams playing against each other. That is how I am looking at it. These kind of things are very interesting when it happens to another team. It will totally depend on how they turn up for the game. Knowing them, I am sure it will be a good match between two evenly contested teams,” Karthik asserted.

Captaincy has changed me:

He acknowledged captaincy has provided a fresh perspective to his game. He also admitted that captaincy has brought a sense of consistency in his approach.

“It has changed my approach towards a lot of people. I am thinking for 10 other people on the ground, what they are thinking and how can I get the best out of them. If you are just a player you are only thinking about yourself, getting the best out of yourself, and that’s what the team needs,” he added.

The cricketer from Tamil Nadu Dinesh Karthik also noted that spin will be an integral part of this tournament.

KKR have quality spinners in their ranks and it will give them an added advantage at Kotla.

“Our spinners have done consistently well, and going forward, I am sure they know what their role is,” Karthik added on.

“Spin is going to be an integral part of the tournament. The spinners have done pretty well, so credit to them. They are coming in with some new skills and always challenging the batsmen. And as we move on into the tournament, because of the heat and everything, the wicket will slow down and am sure they will be a lot more in play,” Karthik concluded.

Also Read: IPL 2018: 26th Match, DD vs KKR – Delhi Daredevils Predicted XI