Dinesh Karthik is in red-hot form in the
IPL 2022. Playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, the wicketkeeper-batter
smashed a 34-ball 66 against Delhi Capitals on Saturday to power his team to a
16 runs win.

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The right-handed batter so far scored
197 runs while batting mostly as a lower-order batter. On Saturday, he formed a
97-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Shahbaz Ahmed, who hit 32, as RCB
plundered 69 runs from the last four overs.

After the thumping victory against DC
that helped RCB rise to the third position on the points table, Karthik said he
has bigger goals and he wants to do something big for India.

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‘Working really hard’

“I have bigger goals. I’ve been
working really hard. My aim is to do something special for the country,” said the man of the match Karthik, who last played for India in the 50 overs World Cup in the United Kingdom in 2019.

“This is part of my journey. I am
doing everything I can to be part of the India team.”

The 36-year-old was dropped on five
against DC. He made full use of the second chance, smashing Bangladesh bowler
Mustafizur Rahman for four fours and two sixes to collect 28 runs in the 18th over. The
right-handed batter will certainly be in contention for a place in India’s T20
World Cup squad later this year.

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RCB got off to a poor start losing
captain Faf du Plessis, opener Anuj Rawat and Virat Kohli early in their
innings. It was then Glenn Maxwell laid the foundation of the innings. Maxwell
smashed Kuldeep Yadav in one over to hit 23 runs before he fell to the same
bowler.

Man of the IPL

An impressed Kohli called Karthik the
“Man of the IPL”. The former India captain also said that the veteran player
has a strong chance to play in the T20 World Cup in Australia in
October-November.

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“I am very happy that DK is so clear in
his goals. I can surely tell you that you have presented a very strong case for
yourself moving forward playing T20 cricket not just for RCB but also I am sure
lot of people are taking notice at the highest level as well,” said Kohli
during a post-match discussion.

In reply, Delhi faltered after Warner’s
departure and Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood struck twice in one over
including the big-hitting Rovman Powell for nought as wheels came off the
chase. Hazlewood picked up three wickets in the game. Warner’s 38-ball 66 went
in vain.