IND vs SA: Dinesh Karthik Has Been In Serious Form In The Role He Is Fulfilling - Keshav Maharaj

South African bowler Keshav Maharaj said his team found it hard to bowl to Dinesh Karthik as he hits in unorthodox areas and also lavished praise on the wicket-keeper batter.

Karthik scored a quick-paced 22-ball 55 in the 4th T20I on a spicy surface in Rajkot to help India post 169 on the board. It was his maiden fifty in T20I and it came in the company of Hardik Pandya, who himself scored 46 off 31 balls.

In the tough run chase, South Africa lost wickets at regular intervals before folding up for 87, their lowest-ever T20I total.

“He (Karthik) has been in serious form in the role he is fulfilling. He is certainly one of the best finishers in the game. He scores in unorthodox areas which makes him difficult to bowl to. We saw why he was one of the leading performers in the IPL. He showed his class today and played exceptionally well,” Maharaj said after the game.

“It makes that much more exciting to go to Bangalore” – Keshav Maharaj

India leveled the series with the 82-run win on Friday and the teams now head to Bengaluru for the final T20I to be played on Sunday. It is still anyone’s series to grab and momentum will not matter in such a crunch game.

“We had a bit of momentum in the first two and India got in the next two. It makes that much more exciting to go to Bangalore, the crowds have been amazing so far, it will add to the excitement.”

“Also it is a good test for our cricket team to see how far we have come to play in events like these and try and clinch the series against a strong Indian outfit,” he added.

Also Read – IND vs IRE: Chief Selector Chetan Sharma Set To Accompany Hardik Pandya, VVS Laxman On Ireland Tour – Reports