Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik said fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is like a Kohinoor diamond for the national team, adding that being entrusted with the responsibility of captaincy will increase the risk of him being injured.
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik believes there is nothing to worry about Virat Kohli’s form in the 2-0 ODI series loss to Sri Lanka, saying life wasn’t easy for rest of the visitors’ batters on pitches aiding spinners to a huge extent.
The 39-year-old former India international boasts intimate knowledge of franchise T20 cricket, having been part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) since its inception in 2008. He has represented six teams during his 16-year IPL career.
The 39-year-old Karthik retired from all forms of representative cricket at the end of the 2024 IPL season. The wicketkeeper-batter was a part of the RCB franchise since the IPL 2022 mega auction and stayed with them for three seasons. He also had a stint with them in 2015 for one season.
Star batter Virat Kohli led the franchise to sing praises of the 38-year-old stumper, who the Delhi batter credited for helping him out in tough times during the 2022 IPL season. In a video shared by the franchise, Kohli gushed about Karthik, terming him a ‘wise man’.
After the Shubman Gill against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi proved instrumental in KKR's victory against the Royals.
Gill's unbeaten 92-run stand with England's World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan helped KKR survive a short scare while they chased down SRH's 142/4.
The match was played in hot and humid conditions in Abu Dhabi which was a change for a number of key foreign players in the KKR squad.
"They (Mumbai Indians) have a team of world-class players; they are a strong lineup and the number of IPL titles they have won shows that. It's good that we are playing Mumbai early in the tournament. Every year is a different year. I am sure it will be a great game tomorrow," said Karthik during a virtual press conference on Tuesday.
Kolkata Knight Riders will open their IPL 13 campaign against the Mumbai Indians at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Wednesday.
