IPL: ‘Unfair’ to Label KKR’s Losing Streak vs Mumbai on This Team

KKR captain Dinesh Karthik speaks to the media after their loss to Mumbai Indians. 

(Photo: BCCI)

Kolkata Knight Riders slumped to their eighth straight loss to Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL), but captain Dinesh Karthik felt it was ‘unfair to label’ the stat on his new team.

Stats wise KKR may not have won (the last 8 matches) but this is a new team with new players so we were hardly aware of these things. If we do the same things 2-3 years down the line then it’s a fair question. This happened with a different team and we’re a totally new set of boys playing. So it’s unfair to label that on us.

Dinesh Karthik, KKR Captain

Led by 19-year-old Ishan Kishan’s 21-ball 62, Mumbai defeated KKR by a massive 102 runs at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday, 9 May. The massive victory margin in Mumbai’s second-biggest IPL win, after their 146 runs victory over Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2017. It, however, is KKR’s biggest defeat ever.

“Honestly speaking, I think the wicket was good. I think 190 would have been par. Their score was 20 runs over par which made a lot of difference. We succumbed to pressure, played a few bad shots and lost a few too many wickets in the Powerplay,” said Karthik.

There are going to be nights like these when you are outplayed. You have to give some credit to Mumbai Indians, they played some real good cricket. As a sportsperson, these are the challenges you face. How quickly you’re able to forget something like this and move on to the next match.

Dinesh Karthik, KKR Captain

On the two under-19 stars who did not feature in KKR’s playing eleven, the skipper said that while Shivam Mavi had injured his finger a few matches back, Shubman Gill had woken up with a sore knee and should be fit for the next game.

(The Quint is now on WhatsApp. To receive handpicked stories on topics you care about, subscribe to our WhatsApp services. Just go to TheQuint.com/WhatsApp and hit Send.)