Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star Dinesh Karthik is having a tough time with the bat in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. The veteran cricketer has only scored 83 runs from 8 matches, exhibiting how badly Karthik has been struggling to score runs.
Notably, the right-handed batter was in excellent form last year when he smashed 330 runs in 16 matches but he hasn’t been able to replicate the same which is beginning to fetch him the one season wonder tag.
In addition, his repeated inability to finish matches for RCB is putting everyone’s endurance to the test. During the match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Chinnaswamy, with RCB requiring 201 runs to win, Karthik was expected to play a crucial role in the team’s victory.
However, his 22 runs off 18 balls proved to be ineffective, and his communication error led to a run-out for Suyash Prabhudesai – the second time this has occurred in two matches – causing further frustration among fans.
After losing five wickets for 115, RCB were relying on the partnership between Karthik and Parbhudessai to steer the team past KKR’s total. The duo had a promising start to their partnership but a miscommunication between them led to Parbhudessai’s dismissal in the 15th over.
No wonder, fans were not impressed as they took to Twitter to express their displeasure towards Karthik, with some calling him a part-time cricketer, full-time commentator while others criticising the comparisons made between him and MS Dhoni.
Here is how netizens reacted:
This is now straight second game for RCB when Dinesh Karthik has been involved in a run-out & both times it's Suyash Prabhudessai who had to depart because of mix-up.
It happened against RR & it happened again tonight against KKR. pic.twitter.com/ILA9eaOCnv
— Rahul Sharma (@CricFnatic) April 26, 2023
Dinesh Karthik after every run out. #RCB #rcbvskkr #KKR pic.twitter.com/enU9JfFCUU
— Anirban Ghoshᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠ (@Anirban_Ghosh_) April 26, 2023
Dinesh Karthik is now more of a liability than an asset to the team, always trying to sabotage the team by making other players get run out!!! Fir khud bhi chal dena h bhai ko 🤦🏻♀️
— Shivani Shukla (@iShivani_Shukla) April 26, 2023
Just a reminder MS Dhoni chased 91 runs in 7 overs at Chinnaswamy.
Never ever compare MS Dhoni with Dinesh Karthik pic.twitter.com/hjc7BThqvW— V (@vanshtweetz) April 26, 2023
The worstt thing RCB did till date is retaining Dinesh karthik 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/iSHx5e1Er4
— # (@hyperkohli) April 26, 2023
When RCB fans realize if they drop Dinesh Karthik then Anuj Rawat will come in playing 11 pic.twitter.com/3X0pYNAf2p
— Ankit Pathak 🇮🇳 (@ankit_acerbic) April 26, 2023
Even the English commentators are laughing. What are you doing, Dinesh Karthik ?#RCBvsKKR pic.twitter.com/j2vuXEIvCl
— Sir BoiesX 🕯 (@BoiesX45) April 26, 2023
Dinesh Karthik without that Nidahas Trophy Final https://t.co/sRa2EKI3iI
— Vish 🖐️🏆 (@vixsh_) April 26, 2023
Dinesh Karthik after running out batsman in every match pic.twitter.com/USp89TmGqk
— Div🦁 (@div_yumm) April 26, 2023
Dinesh Karthik The Greatest Finisher Will Finish RCB One Day 😭😂. pic.twitter.com/iGsxXmfERB
— Aufridi Chumtya (@ShuhidAufridi) April 26, 2023
Dinesh Karthik In Every Match To RCB Fans :-#RCBvsKKR pic.twitter.com/K1qDXoaDG9
— Sir BoiesX 🕯 (@BoiesX45) April 26, 2023
Dinesh Karthik: Impact Player for Every teams who plays against RCB pic.twitter.com/hgPYBQADYq
— Pulkit🇮🇳 (@pulkit5Dx) April 26, 2023
Notably, Karthik’s performances in IPL 2023 have been quite disappointing, with scores of 0, 9, 1*, 0, 28, 7, 16, and 22. Being the senior member of the relatively inexperienced RCB middle-order, he was expected to take a significant amount of responsibility but things have not turned out as expected.