IPL 2019: Aakash Chopra disappointed with KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik both as captain & batsman

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) found their brakes irreversible mid-way into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 as they slumped to their fifth consecutive loss in the tournament on Sunday. Playing Sunrisers Hyderabad on their home turf, KKR came up with yet another overall disappointment and got whacked at the hands of the hosts by 9 wickets. Once the table toppers in the tournament, Dinesh Karthik’s side is now in the danger of finishing among the last three.

They still have a chance of making it if they win the remaining four games but given the side’s streak of losses, it might now be too tall an ask. KKR captain Karthik has come under heavy criticism for the team’s nosedive in the tournament. The wicketkeeper-batsman who recently made the cut into India’s World Cup squad for the 2019 edition starting next month, was accused of failing to deliver, both as the captain and batsman.

Last year, Karthik himself was in good form and had led KKR to finish among the top three but this year, it has only been a story of despair. Former India Test opener Aakash Chopra raised the point about Karthik’s failure this season in both his roles. In a tweet, Chopra said the 33-year-old Tamil Nadu player played an instrumental role behind the KKR’s good show but not this season.

He said the captain did not score enough runs and even erred tactically. One of the biggest criticism that Karthik received this IPL was about sending the in-form batsman Andre Russell far down the order despite his superhuman form, disallowing him to play the maximum number of deliveries.

Here is Aakash’s assessment:

Last season, DK was instrumental in #KKR’s rise. Unfortunately, he isn’t pulling his weight in the side this season. Not enough runs. In the last few games, tactically a little off the mark too… #IPL

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 21, 2019

Karthik is having a poor IPL 2019

As a batsman, the 33-year-old had a forgettable outing this year with just 117 runs in 10 matches at an abysmal average of below 17 and strike-rate of 119. Last year, after he took over from the KKR’s most successful captain Gautam Gambhir, Karthik scored 498 runs from 16 matches at an average of almost 5o and strike rate of 147 plus. The man has also come too far down the order and not taken enough initiative to lead from the front.

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