Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik became a hero last year when he slammed a last-ball six in Nidahas Trophy finals against Bangladesh. But on February 10, in the third and final T20I against New Zealand, when Karthik was on the strike in yet another crucial game, he failed to take his team to another famous victory despite batting well.
The wicket-keeper batsman was criticised a lot for not taking a single in the final over to let his partner Krunal Pandya take the strike, Krunal was also looking good. Krunal was on 25 off 12 balls at that point of time and was connecting the ball well.
Chasing a massive target of 213 runs in 20 overs, India were 145 for 6 before Karthik and Krunal came together to score 52 runs off 22 balls. India needed 16 runs off the last over. Karthik trying to hit over the boundary in the third delivery, mistimed it but then to everybody’s shock, refused to take a single.
Karthik eventually hit one six after a few single but that wasn’t enough to take India to the victory line. The visitors lost the game by four runs and the series by 2-1. Karthik faced a lot of criticism for not taking a single. Even Indian Premier League franchise Mumbai Indians for which Krunal plays, took a pot-shot at Dinesh Karthik.
.@krunalpandya24 26 not-out from 13 balls and got to face only 1 ball in the final over. 🤷🏻♂🤔
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) February 10, 2019
Hard luck, KP! 💙#CricketMeriJaan #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/BVm2HmDguA