Just before their match against Mumbai Indians, who also happen to be their bogey team, KKR announced that Dinesh Karthik has quit captaincy and Eoin Morgan would be taking over from him with immediate effect.
Even though it is widely believed that it was Karthik’s call to forgo captaincy and focus on his batting knowing that they have an able leader in Morgan. The move somehow fails to hold any cricketing logic.
Why did Karthik suddenly feel the need to focus on his batting, that too after bagging a man of the match award against KXIP (which he received thanks to his incredible finishing prowess)?
There is surely something more than what meets the eye. Even during Karthik’s captaincy this season, Morgan was seen marshaling the troops more often than not from mid-off and mid-on. He was constantly in the ears of his bowlers to discuss and execute their plans.
There were eyebrows raised when the team played with an ever-changing batting line up. It helped nobody’s cause that they were unsure of their batting position. Add to it the issue of Sunil Narine being reported, this incident further hampered KKR’s journey in the IPL. All this might have taken a toll on Dinesh Karthik, which may have forced him to decide passing over the baton.
Did Karthik feel that even though he was the official captain, the players and the coaching staff felt otherwise? Only time would tell what transpired but the truth is, the change hasn’t been effective so far.
