IPL 2022: Dinesh Karthik outsmarting bowlers due to clarity of thoughts, says Shastri

Indian Premier League (IPL), Dinesh Karthik has been a revelation as a finisher for his team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). With 210 runs in seven matches at a whopping average of 210 and strike-rate of 205.88, including being not out six times, Karthik excelling in the finishing role and taking RCB out of tricky situations has been one of the chief reasons in the franchise being in top three on the points table. Ravi Shastri, former India head coach, credits clarity of thought and hunger to score runs for Karthik producing terrific performances as a finisher in IPL 2022.

"He's getting into great positions to play the shots, he knows exactly what his role is. He's moving early, he's anticipating what the bowler is going to do. What he's doing extremely well this year is the anticipation which is turning out to be dead right on 90 per cent of the time and that makes a difference," said the former India cricketer on Cricket Live show on Star Sports.

It is the clarity in anticipation and getting it bang on is what Shastri believes is the reason behind Karthik's hunger to get runs in IPL 2022. "He's outsmarting the bowlers, he's one step ahead of them. The clarity and thought process is very positive and that's making the difference.

He has the experience, he's fit like anyone else, but what's great to see is the hunger to score runs. I must say that at his age, he's picking up the length better than most players even younger than him." Another former India player, Mohammad Kaif thinks Karthik never had the dearth of talent since his international debut in 2004 and feels that the 36-year-old conquering the cobwebs of mind is getting him good results in IPL 2022. "This is his own fight, he wants to overcome his mind.