Dinesh Karthik exclusive: ‘Finisher’s role isn’t thankless — it’s a high-skill job’ | ILT20 | Cricket News
TimesofIndia.com in Dubai: Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik reflects on shifting from SA20 to ILT20, explaining the stark differences between a Test-nation league and an associate-nation tournament. In an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com, Karthik talks about his new team Sharjah Warriors, his influence on India player Jitesh Sharma at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), also touched upon the topic about why finishing is a specialist’s craft, and why Tim David is the world’s best middle-order hitter. He also breaks down the technical science behind power-hitting. Excerpts:You have been part of the SA20, and now you will be playing for Sharjah Warriors in the ILT20. New league, new challenges…First up, SA20 is a very different tournament. All six teams are IPL-owned and the league is very well supported. Their domestic system and domestic players are very strong. This setup is very different because ILT20 belongs to an associate nation. You obviously don’t have the strength and quality that a current Test-playing nation would have, and that is a big difference. In terms of crowds as well, I don’t think it will be anywhere close to what SA20 can draw.So the dynamics of this tournament are very different. In SA20, seven locals play along with four foreigners. Here, many more foreigners feature — about eight of the eleven will be overseas players, with three from associate nations. So the dynamics are very different.If you could also talk about the franchise Sharjah Warriors?Speaking about Sharjah Warriors, I think it is very nice to see a group like Capri Global willing to invest in sport. Not just cricket — they’ve invested in kabaddi as well. And seeing how involved their daughter is in sport, it’s a great opportunity for them as a company to experience the ebbs and flows of what it means to be part of sport. Representing them is something I’m very happy about. They are slowly but steadily rising in the sporting world and I wish them all the success. I’m happy to represent them and do the best I can.
ILT20: Dinesh Karthik to represent Sharjah Warriorz in season 4
At RCB, you made Jitesh Sharma your pet project. In an interview with TimesofIndia.com, he categorically mentioned that your inputs have made him a better player.I think it’s a very noble thought, and it’s great that Jitesh feels that way about me. But as a player, the amount of time you can spend influencing someone is mostly through actions. When you’re a coach, the dynamic is very different. I’m more than happy to see if, while playing, I get the opportunity to influence somebody. But I have to say that Jitesh is someone I’ve enjoyed working with, and there are many such players in this league as well. Whenever I get time, I’ll try to spend a little bit and see if I can help them in any way.
Dinesh Karthik spent a lot of time working with Jitesh Sharma in the RCB dugout.
In India, why are there so few finishers? No one wants to do the dirty job. Is batting at 6 and 7 difficult, or is the role thankless?First of all, I don’t think it’s thankless. In fact, I feel finishers get paid enormously well because the role is very niche, and people have now started seeing the value in a finisher, even if they play far fewer balls than the top order.I don’t think it’s “dirty” either because there is so much work to do and it is extremely challenging. You encounter far more failures in the middle order compared to being an opener or a top-order batter because you face fewer balls and have to take many more risks.Who do you think is the best finisher in T20 cricket at present?Tim David, according to me, is the best middle-order batsman in the world. When you watch him bat, there is a lot of method behind the shots he plays. It’s not blind hitting. There is so much skill and technique that he has harnessed and worked on, and now he’s proving to himself and to the world how good and consistent he can be. There is a lot of skill involved, and also plenty of mental aptitude needed to understand what to do in different situations. It’s a very fun job if you truly enjoy it.If you could talk about the science behind power-hitting?First comes the flow and the position — then how you use certain basics like a good wide base. You need to be beside the line. It’s about small things. You have to work one step at a time, understand what you’re lacking, and figure out how to get better. That’s how you improve.
