IPL 2022: Shane Watson has named RCB’s star this season© BCCI/IPL
Royal Challengers Bangalore wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik is in remarkable form for the franchise in the ongoing IPL 2022 season, scoring 324 runs in 15 matches. This is the main reason Karthik has been named in India’s T20I roster for the five-game series against South Africa. Karthik has averaged 64.80 for RCB this season and for his solid performances, former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson chose the wicketkeeper as the “standout” performer for the franchise this season.
“Josh Hazlewood, he showed that with CSK, and now his bowling with the T20s has been through the roof for the past 18 months. Harshal Patel has added value again, gosh he’s been brilliant in recent years. And the one who stood out the most was Dinesh Karthik. The value he has added and he showed it last night (Wednesday against Lucknow Super Giants). To end innings that way, they could have stalled a bit, but he got 32 out of 16 balls to really take that extra little punch. He’s done that almost every time he’s batted for RCB,” Watson said on the Grade Cricketer Podcast.
Against LSG in the Eliminator, Karthik played an unbeaten knockout by 37 runs off 23 balls and he helped RCB along with Rajat Patidar ((112 not out) RCB to 207/4 in 20 overs. In the end, RCB won the match by 14 runs and now they face Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2.
Speaking of Faf du Plessis’ leadership, Watson said: “Even before this tournament started, RCB was one of my favorites because of how well they did in the auction and how well-balanced their team they could put together. Faf du Plessis, that was a great buy for them because knowing that Virat would step down Faf was probably one of the few players I think would do a brilliant job of knowing how to get the best out of Virat if not the captain and more or less know how they need to steer the franchise in the right direction.”
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“It was tactically a brilliant decision to bring in and lead Faf. He is a great guy and a very good leader. Very compassionate, caring and empathetic guy. He would always do a good job and combine that with Kohli, Maxwell and Hazlewood,” he added.
RCB had made it to the play-offs after Mumbai Indians defeated Delhi Capitals. RCB was placed in fourth place in the points table.
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