IPL 11: Captain Karthik Urges KKR Pacers to Learn the Knuckleball

Dinesh Karthik praises spinners but urges the quicks to learn the newer tricks in fast-bowling.

Dinesh Karthik addresses the press after going down to SRH, urges pacers to learn the knuckleball.

(Photo: ANI Screenshot)

Lauding his spinners for a spirited bowling performance, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Dinesh Karthik urged his quicks to learn the knuckleball from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), whose bowlers set up a five-wicket win against his team at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on 14 April.

India pace spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar scalped three wickets and Australian quick Billy Stanlake conceded just 21 runs off his fours overs and picked up two wickets.

The Sunrisers restricted KKR to a modest total of 138/8 in 20 overs.

Bhuvneshwar had recently said that he has been working on the knuckleball for a year and "you need to find out new ways to get the batsman out."

Their (SRH) bowlers have a good knuckleball going. They use it to good effect. That’s something we can look at and learn from.

Dinesh Karthik, Captain, Kolkata Knight Riders

The hosts’ three-pronged spin attack comprising mystery spinner Sunil Narine, chinaman Kuldeep Yadav, and leggie Piyush Chawla gave away just 60 runs from a combined 12 overs with Narine scalping two wickets and the other two grabbing one wicket apiece.

SRH were made to labour in their chase of 139 largely due to the spinners who were difficult to score off.

I think the spinners bowled beautifully. After the CSK game, the way they have come back, all three bowled well for us. So, I am very happy with way the spinners bowled.

Dinesh Karthik, Captain, Kolkata Knight Riders

On being questioned on the roles given to Indian under-19 players Shubman Gill and Shivam Mavi, Karthik said that owing to the presence of established middle-order batsmen in the side, Shubman Gill was sent lower down the order where he need not have to build an innings but go and express himself.

Speaking about Shivam Mavi, he said that the pacer bowled just one over since the spinners were bowling well and had restricted the batsmen.

Karthik further opined that the hour-long rain break did shift the momentum in favour of the visiting side but was not the sole cause of the defeat.

The Knight Riders were 52/1 when it started drizzling with Chris Lynn (31 not out) and Nitish Rana (18 not out) looking good after Robin Uthappa (3) had departed early.

I don’t think you can put it totally to that but at that point we were getting some good rhythm and that kind of broke. We went in again and it worked in their favour more than us.

Dinesh Karthik, Captain, Kolkata Knight Riders

The Knight Riders play their next game against the Delhi Daredevils on 16 April while the Sunrisers take on the Kings XI at Mohali on 19 April.