IPL 2018 | You never know when you will get an opportunity in the IPL, says Dhawal Kulkarni

It is never easy for a sportsman to watch from the sidelines while his team is out on the field. But Rajasthan Royals pacer, Dhawal Kulkarni has played on the big stage for enough time to realise that when the stakes are big, everyone must pay a price. Kulkarni has been part of the IPL since 2008 where he was part of the Mumbai Indians franchise and since then he has played for a couple of teams which include his present franchise, Rajasthan Royals and the now defunct, Gujarat Lions. 

This season, Kulkarni managed to get eight games with RR in which he picked up four wickets with an economy rate of just under 10. The arrival of highly rated pacer Jofra Archer meant that Kulkarni had to make way for the foreign bowler for the benefit of the team, something which the former was more than happy to do.

“As long as the guys are putting in the effort, we are happy. Dropping catches is part of the game. After that, we also took many brilliant catches, so I will take that as a positive rather than looking at the dropped catches.

“It’s part and parcel of any cricketer.You are out of the team, you have to keep focus, you have to prepare well. IPL is a long tournament, you never know when you will get that opportunity, so make the most of it when you get it,” Kulkarni said in a post-match interview.

Kulkarni also showered praise on youngster Archer who has impressed everyone with his ability to bowl some fast-paced deliveries and yorkers. Archer has managed to regularly cross the 145 kmph mark with his deliveries as he has already notched up 11 wickets from six matches.

“I feel a bowler who is bowling at 145 (kph) is very difficult for a batsman to face. Especially the way he bowls with the high-arm action, it suited him. The Wankhede wicket has good bounce and carry, so it was helpful for him. He’s been consistently bowling well. But today it was special, the wicket assisted him really well. I just wished he got the hat-trick. It would have been better for us and him as well,” Kulkarni added.