Dinesh Karthik is the pro version of Suryakumar Yadav: Pragyan Ojha

Playing their first match of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders are involved in a high-scoring clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Batting first, KKR managed to post a massive total of 187 runs on the board and some credit for the same goes to the wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik too.

Coming to bat at number six, Karthik gave a glimpse of his power-hitting abilities as he smashed 22 runs in just nine deliveries at a strike rate of 244.44. The wicketkeeper’s powerful cameo included two boundaries and one maximum. One noteworthy point here is that the 35-year-old hammered these runs while batting against two of the best death bowlers including the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan.

Former Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha seemed highly impressed with the former KKR skipper’s knock. Ojha lavished praises on Karthik saying that he is versatile and should come to bat at number three as that will give him more game time. The 34-year-old believes that Karthik can do a lot of damage if gets settled on the field and should thus try to bat in the top-order.

Dinesh Karthik should always come as an opener or maybe one down: Pragyan Ojha

Further, the veteran also compared the 35-year-old with Mumbai Indians swashbuckling batsman Suryakumar Yadav. “I believe Dinesh Karthik opening or coming 1 down will do wonders to KKR because he is a guy if he bats long, he is so versatile. He is the pro version of Suryakumar Yadav. 

“That’s what I feel, I have seen right from my childhood. That’s the reason I have always said that Dinesh Karthik should always come as an opener or maybe one down. He needs those 7, 8 extra deliveries so that you know he can set himself up,” said Pragyan Ojha while speaking on Star Sports.

Put to bat first, the Knight Riders posted a mammoth total of 187 runs on the board as apart from Karthik, Nitish Rana shined for the franchise while opening the innings alongside Shubman Gill. Rana played a scintillating knock of 80 runs off 56 deliveries including nine boundaries and four maximums.