IPL: Dinesh Karthik wins hearts, smashes brilliant 83 against SRH
Dinesh Karthik slammed an uncanny 83(35) against Sunrisers Hyderabad in a record-breaking IPL 2024 encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. He kept Royal Challengers Bengaluru alive as they attempted to chase 288. RCB crossed 100 within 10 overs but lost successive wickets thereafter. From 122/5, Karthik managed to propel RCB past 240. He slammed his 22nd IPL half-century, albeit in a losing cause.
A stellar knock from Karthik
Karthik played arguably his best IPL knock. He lit up the second half, smashing a 35-ball 83. The middle-order batter, who gave an exhibition of his slog and reverse sweeps, smacked 5 fours and 7 sixes. He brought up his fifty in just 23 balls when 120 were required off 40 balls. The equation was down to 44 off 8 balls before Karthik departed.
WATCH: Karthik takes Natarajan to cleaners
SRH slam highest-ever total in IPL
Travis Head was at his aggressive best as he attacked the bowlers straightaway. He added 102 runs with his opening partner Abhishek Sharma (34) before completing his ton. Heinrich Klaasen then took over the baton as the scoring rate continued to surge. Aiden Markram (32*) and Abdul Samad (37*) added 56 runs in the final three overs as SRH finished at 287/3.
Karthik adds fire in RCB's run-chase
RCB were off to a stellar start as Faf du Plessis (62) added 80 runs with Virat Kohli (42) for the opening wicket. However, the team then lost five wickets inside 42 runs. Karthik and Mahipal Lomror reignited RCB's hopes with a 59-run partnership. Though Karthik batted exceptionally well for his 83, RCB were restricted to 262/7. The match recorded 549 runs.
A look at his IPL career
After playing for a host of franchises, Karthik has made his name as a potent finisher in T20 cricket. In the past two seasons, Karthik has finished several games for RCB. He has a strike rate of 163.79 for them in the IPL. Overall, Karthik has slammed 4,742 runs from 249 IPL encounters at a strike rate of 134.98 (50s: 22).
Strike rate of 252.85 in death overs
Karthik has been in sublime form in IPL 2024, having recorded scores of 83, 53*, 4, 20, 28*, and 38*. He has a strike rate of 252.85 in death overs (16-20), the highest among batters to have played a minimum of 40 balls.
