Second month of IPL is really important, you need to make sure you have all guns blazing: Dinesh Karthik

Ahead of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders, veteran cricketer Dinesh Karthik had stated that the franchise was keen not to get too ahead of themselves after a terrific win over Mumbai Indians. Notably, on their home turf, they decimated the five-time champions and picked up a comfortable eight-wicket victory on Sunday, April 2.

Virat Kohli (82 runs off 49 deliveries) and skipper Faf du Plessis (73 runs off 43 deliveries) stitched a very important partnership in the middle as the MI bowlers looked clueless throughout the game. Meanwhile, following the remarkable victory, Karthik opined that there was a good nervous energy in the group which was because the players cared about the team and wanted to win the IPL trophy.

“I think there is good nervous energy around the group, which shows we care. We are also keen on not getting too ahead of ourselves, we want to continue the same sort of process and momentum we want to achieve through this IPL.

“IPL, in many ways, you can split it two halves, at the start of the season in the first month, you have to make sure the process is right and not get too ahead of yourself. The 2nd month is where it really counts, you need to make sure you have all guns blazing. It's the second month you have to carry on with the same energy and that will help you cross the line,” Karthik was quoted as saying by India Today.

RCB lost to KKR in their second match of the season

Despite a really good start with the ball, RCB bowlers failed to capitalize on the momentum as Shardul Thakur wreaked havoc with the bat. The all-rounder smashed 68 runs off 29 deliveries, courtesy of which, KKR posted 204 runs after the first innings. Notably, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rinku Singh played some remarkable cricket as well and thus, KKR would be happy going forward amassing all the positivities from the game. 

Meanwhile, RCB collapsed with the bat in the second innings as the spin trio of Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy and Suyash Sharma absolutely decimated Bangalore’s batting unit. Chakravarthy picked up four wickets in the match and with that, he once again entered the IPL Purple Cap race. On the other hand, debutant Suyash picked up three and Narine picked up two wickets as KKR won the match comfortably by 81 runs.