When Ravichandran Ashwin got retired out against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) last month, it raised eyebrows. When the dust settled, many former cricketers lauded Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) move to get Ashwin off the field and give a big-hitter chance in slog overs. Few weeks later, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper revealed that he wanted to retire himself like Ashwin during the clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on May 8.
RCB opener was tired during his unbeaten 73-run knock. The heat took a toll on him and in the penultimate over, he wanted to walk back to the dugout and get their designated finisher, Dinesh Karthik in the middle. However, he decided against it in as Glenn Maxwell fell with 10 balls left in the innings.
“If he (Dinesh Karthik) is hitting sixes like that, we want to get him in and bat as long as possible. He's just so clear. To be honest, I was actually trying to get out because I was so tired, to get DK in. We were even contemplating - myself 'retiring out',” the RCB skipper said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
Du Plessis would have been right about his decision had Maxwell stayed at the crease. Karthik was brutal in the slog overs and scored 30 runs from just eight deliveries to help RCB post 192/3 after opting to bat first. The wicketkeeper-batter hit four sixes in his cameo including three consecutive sixes in the last over against Fazalhaq Farooqi.
“DK is in such good form. It was a tricky wicket. A lot of guys, their first few balls, they struggled. Lucky for us, there was a drop catch of DK and he just took them apart,” he added.
The 37-year-old carried his bat with 73 runs to his name from 50 deliveries which included eight fours and two sixes. He played the anchor role in the slog overs as Maxwell and Karthik provided the boost to RCB’s score with timely cameos.
