NEW DELHI:
Dinesh Karthik
, the wicketkeeper-batter for
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
, not only showcased his impressive batting skills in the Indian Premier League 2024 but also his witty sense of humor as he took a playful jab at former England skipper
Nasser Hussain
.
Karthik's remarkable form was evident during RCB's clash against Punjab Kings, where he played a crucial unbeaten knock of 28 from just 10 balls, guiding his team to victory with an outstanding strike rate of 280.
His performance earned him praise from Hussain, who lauded Karthik's batting prowess and even tipped him to be part of India's squad for the upcoming
T20 World Cup
.
However, in a light-hearted exchange with Hussain on Sky Sports, Karthik humorously dismissed Hussain's compliments, jokingly stating, "Nas, I am not going to trust a word of what you said. Nas doesn't like me as a person, as a player, as a wicketkeeper let alone any part of me."
Karthik's playful banter continued as he reminisced about a previous interview where Hussain's remarks had seemingly criticized him, leading to a humorous exchange between the two.
"Last year at the World Cup, the only person who wanted me so badly out of the team... You took an interview with me, you stabbed me in the back. Where is the
Rishabh Pant
that was the headline we got," Karthik jokingly remarked.
"Don't try to play nice and coy with me. After ten games he would probably give me a ring and say I just thought for a second you batted well and now looks good. On a serious note, it has been a good start for me personally," Karthik added, maintaining his playful tone while acknowledging his impressive performance in the tournament.
Despite the jest, Karthik acknowledged the positive start to his personal performance in the tournament. His contributions have been notable, especially in contrast to RCB's struggle to secure favorable results.
Currently placed ninth in the IPL points table with just one win in five matches and a negative net run rate, RCB face a challenging road ahead.
However, Karthik and his team remain determined as they gear up to face Mumbai Indians in their upcoming fixture at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Thursday.
(With inputs from ANI)
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