IPL 2018| In crunch games it's not about par score, but pressure, insists Dinesh Karthik

IPL 2018| In crunch games it's not about par score, but pressure, insists Dinesh Karthik

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After registering a convincing victory against Rajasthan in the Eliminator on Wednesday, Dinesh Karthik has asserted that putting pressure on the opposition during crunch games is the key to win. The KKR skipper has also declared that his bowers and fielders have been picked up at the right moment.

Kolkata Knight Riders kept their winning momentum going, knocking Rajasthan Royals out of the IPL with a 25-run victory in the Eliminator at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The Dinesh Karthik-led side will now be playing Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 on Friday for a berth in Sunday’s final against Chennai Super Kings. Much like their last match here, Rajasthan Royals was seen losing their control on the match after an upper hand early on.

Being reduced to 51/4, skipper Dinesh Karthik and young Shubman Gill got together for a much-needed 55-run stand before Andre Russell smashed an unbeaten 25-ball 49 to help the side post a competitive 170-run target.

In reply to Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals started well and were very much in the game till the 17th over. However, some great death bowling by Andre Russell and Prasidh Krishna ensured KKR a victory eventually. Rahane had initially taken the charge of the innings with 41-ball 46 runs and shared a 62-ball second-wicket stand with Sanju Samson. But once Samson was caught at 50 off 38 balls in the long-on by Javon Searles in Chawla’s last over, RR lost their way out.

Dinesh Karthik, who played a captain's knock batting first, was absolutely pleased with four wins on the trot before heading against table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad and thanked the knock of Shubman Gill especially. 

"I think winning four games on the row feels good. Especially this one as we were under the pump. Credit to Shubman Gill. He absorbed all the pressure when he walked in. Before he got out, he played some lovely shots and eased the pressure off me." Karthik said at the post-match presentation ceremony, as reported by Cricketnext.

Describing the high-voltage eliminator, where a mistake could be more than enough to go out of the competition, Karthik pointed out that during the crunch games, a team should try to put as much pressure as possible on the opposition.

"In these games, it is about the attitude and the belief about how much you have got. In this kind of crunch games, it is never about the par score; it's about how much pressure you can put on the other side," he added. 

Praising the Rajasthan Royals bowlers, Karthik mentioned that they have been a side who always thought out of the box and have got the opposing thinking, which demanded him (Karthik) to have immense patience after the top-order collapse.

"The bowlers have picked up their game. We fielded well today, which was good to see. They (RR) always think out of the box. They kept a short leg and put pressure on the batsman. They get the captain thinking. You need to hold your game and nerves. Every game is important from here on. Next game is important as there are two good teams which will be competing."

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