India’s wicket-keeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik has been appointed as the new captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Meanwhile, Saurashtra player Robin Uthappa has been named as the vice-captain of the side.
The 32-year-old Karthik, who has played 152 games since the inception of the IPL, was bought for Rs 7.4 crore during the IPL mega-auction.
While announcing the team’s captain live on TV, KKR’s MD and CEO, Venky Mysore said, “It is indeed a start of a new phase for KKR, and we are delighted that someone, as experienced as Dinesh Karthik, will lead the side.”
Drumrolls! 🥁
Experienced wicket-keeper batsman, @DineshKarthik will lead the men in Purple and Gold for VIVO @IPL 2018. 🙌#KorboLorboJeetbo #KKRKaCaptainKaun pic.twitter.com/558Nkgpj9F— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 4, 2018
Karthik has previously led Delhi Daredevils in the IPL and has captained other franchises in the domestic circuit.
The Kolkata franchise will hope that his experience with the bat and gloves and as a leader will prove to have a positive effect on the new look KKR team for the upcoming season.
Here’s how fans on Twitter reacted to Dinesh Karthik’s appointment:
The one thing that @DineshKarthik hasn't had in the #IPL is stability. Hopefully leadership of a huge franchise #KKR will give him that.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 4, 2018
KKR's new captain Dinesh Karthik has won 13 of his 18 T20 matches as captain which gives him a win percentage of 72.20% – the highest T20 win percentage of any of the eight IPL captains this season. #IPL #KKR
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) March 4, 2018
Dinesh Karthik has been appointed as the captain of #KKR
Basically DK did a Murli Vijay to Robin Uthappa..#IPL2018
— Vaishali♀️ (@vaishali_45) March 4, 2018
Dinesh Karthik's captaincy record:
SMA T20:
Played – 12
Won – 11
Lost – 1IPL:
Played – 6
Won – 2
Lost – 4TNPL:
Played – 8
Won – 7
Lost – 1#IPL2018 #KKR— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) March 4, 2018
From Sourav Ganguly, Brendon McCullum (2009) to Gautam Gambhir..And then Dinesh Karthik 😭🤦🏽♂️
— Abhishek ✨ (@ImAbhishek7_) March 4, 2018
Dinesh Karthik, after being named the captain of KKR pic.twitter.com/4O1Ln79j4i
— Bade Chote (@badechote) March 4, 2018
KKR fans after knowing that Dinesh Karthik is the new captain pic.twitter.com/JQfAEI4URq
— Abhishek ✨ (@ImAbhishek7_) March 4, 2018
Dinesh Karthik has been appointed as the captain of #KKR
Now he can play all 14 matches this season…😂
— Abhishek Deshmukh (@AB_Deshmukh) March 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/NLWC07/status/970150067284803585
"Dinesh Karthik named as Kolkata Knight Riders' new captain." pic.twitter.com/WnhwB7LLn4
— 🇮🇳 (@Ojasism) March 4, 2018
