IPL 2020: Dinesh Karthik is a proactive captain and a perfectionist, says Sandeep Warrier


IPL 2020: Dinesh Karthik is a proactive captain and a perfectionist, says Sandeep Warrier

WhatsApp Image 2020 08 28 at 7.19.12 AM

Sandeep Warrier and Dinesh karthik

Speedster Sandeep Warrier is all set represents Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders for the second time in the upcoming 13th season of the tournament. He is looking forward to a successful season under the captaincy of “perfectionist” Dinesh Karthik.

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“I am really happy and excited to be back in the IPL squad. DK bhai is an amazing captain. He gives a lot of freedom. He will support you on and off the field. ‘Keep yourself ready for every game’ – that’s what he tells me every time. DK is a proactive captain and a perfectionist. He is very involved. He wants perfection in every department. Be it fielding, bowling or batting,” Warrier told Timesofindia.com in an exclusive interview before he left for the UAE.

Playing for a big team like KKR is obviously a big thing: Sandeep Warrier

Kolkata Knight Riders players celebrates the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane (R) during the match Swai Mansingh Stadium

Kolkata Knight Riders picked Warrier in the 2019 IPL auction. He went left unsold in the auction but the franchise signed him as a replacement for Kamlesh Nagarkoti.

“When I got a call from KKR last season. I was watching a league match in Chennai. I thought KKR were calling me for a trial. But in the evening, I got to know that I am going to replace Kamlesh Nagarkoti in the squad. That was a big moment for me. Playing for a big team like KKR is obviously a big thing,” Warrier said.

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Also Read | IPL 2020: Dinesh Karthik excited to work with Pat Cummins and Eoin Morgan

Warrier who was signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013, is eager to play with his KKR teammates.

“It been almost 5 months I have not played competitive cricket, not even a match. I am really excited to get back to the cricket field. IPL is a big platform for all youngsters. I am really excited to be a part of it. We have a strong team. We have match-winners in the team,” he added.

Andre Russell: An actual superstar

Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell

Warrier spent three seasons with RCB and didn’t get a chance to play a single match but he told that the tips Virat Kohli and Zaheer Khan shared to him, was a huge learning experience for him.

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“I bowled a lot of deliveries to Virat Bhai in the nets. In 2013, I didn’t get much chance to speak with Virat Bhai. But in 2014 and 2015, I did have a lot of conversations with Virat Bhai. He told me about the improvement in my speed. He told me one thing ‘reading the batsman is very important’. It was a huge learning experience interacting with Zaheer Bhai, RP Singh and Vinay Kumar at RCB. I learn a lot from all the three seniors. The best thing I learnt from Zaheer Bhai was how to approach a game and how to prepare yourself ahead of a game. He is a legend of the game,” Warrier stated.

Furthermore, Warrier also talked about Andre Russell and praised him by saying that he is actually a superstar.

“Recently Venky sir said Andre Russell is the Michael Jordan of T20 cricket. I agree with the statement. Russell is a classy all-rounder. He can change the game single-handedly. If you see some matches of the last season, he completely changed the game. He is actually a superstar”.

Also read: IPL 2020: Dinesh Karthik excited to work with Pat Cummins and Eoin Morgan

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