Dinesh Karthik Ready To Captain KKR Again In IPL 2021 If Need Arises. (Photo: BCCI)
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Dinesh Karthik has said that he is ready to captain the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) once again when the IPL 2021 edition in case regular captain Eoin Morgan doesn’t get permission from the England and Wales Board (ECB) to travel to UAE for the tournament.
The IPL 2021 was suspended in May by the BCCI after COVID-19 cases got out of hand in the teams’ bio-bubbles as multiple players, coaches, support staff, and ground staff caught the virus. Recently, the BCCI announced that the remainder of the IPL 2021 consisting of 31 matches will be played in the Sept-Oct window in UAE.
Dinesh Karthik and Eoin Morgan for KKR (Photo-BCCI-IPL)
However, along with this announcement, also came the news that the resumption of the IPL 2021 will see a limited number of overseas players. This is due to ECB and Bangladesh Cricket Board refusing to send their players for the second half of the IPL 14 citing international commitments.
If I Am Asked To Lead, I Will Be Ready For It: Dinesh Karthik On Captaining KKR In Second Half Of IPL 2021
And KKR will be the ones affected as England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan leads them, after taking over from Dinesh Karthik in the middle of IPL 2020, which was also played in UAE. Apart from Morgan, Australia pacer Pat Cummins is also unlikely to return as well.
Eoin Morgan (Image Credit: Twitter)
If Morgan doesn’t come for the second half of the IPL 2021, the two-time IPL champions KKR will need to find a new captain, and Dinesh Karthik might be one of the options the team management can turn to. Karthik led KKR in IPL 20218, 2019 and a part of 2020.
“Pat Cummins has himself said that he will not come. But when it comes to Eoin Morgan, there are still three months to go. A lot can change from now till September. But if I am asked to lead, I will be ready for it,” Karthik said while speaking to The Times of India.
Eoin Morgan and Dinesh Karthik (Image Credit: Twitter)
Under Karthik’s captaincy, who got the job after Gautam Gambhir requested to be released in the IPL 2018 auction so that he could move to the Delhi franchise and end his career there, KKR’s fortunes have not been that good.
The franchise managed to qualify for the second round of IPL 2018 but lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Qualifier. In 2019, KKR crashed out from the league stage. Karthik was bought by KKR for Rs 7.40 Crs in IPL 2018 auction.
Also Read: IPL Franchises Start Discussion With UAE Hotels; Confident Of BCCI Making Overseas Cricketers Available
