"Tea, Cappuccino, Then These Things Happened": Dinesh Karthik Sums Up RCB's Fragile Batting Order

Dinesh Karthik has been the crisis man for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) this season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Karthik, who had a season to forget last year, has raised his stocks once again, with IPL 2024 likely to be his last in the tournament. The 38-year-old played the rescue act once against on Saturday when RCB almost threw away their playoff hopes. Chasing 148 against the Gujarat Titans, RCB went from 92/0 to 117/6 with Noor Ahmad and Joshua Little doing the damage with the ball after the powerplay.

However, Karthik hit an unbeaten 21 off just 12 deliveries to keep RCB alive in the playoffs hunt.

Speaking after the match, Karthik revealed that he was relaxing a bit after Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli had put 92 runs for the first wicket in the powerplay.

Karthik said that he was having tea and cappuccino in the dressing room, thinking that he might not have to bat, considering the fiery start to the chase.

Dinesh Karthik said "I started with a tea then after 4 overs I had a cappuccino and thought I wouldn't be batting then these things happened and I have to bat (smiles)". pic.twitter.com/VXnZn345mD

Kohli, who reclaimed the top batting spot with 542 runs, came out roaring as he hit Mohit Sharma for two sixes in the opening over of the chase and Du Plessis soon joined in and moved ahead to raise his fifty in 18 balls.

The South African veteran smashed 10 fours and three sixes in his 23-ball blitz before being dismissed by Ireland left-arm quick Little.

Du Plessis' departure triggered a collapse as Gujarat hit back with wickets from Joshua Little and Noor Ahmad to have the opposition in trouble at 117-6 when Kohli was dismissed.

However, Karthik and Swapnil Singh, who made 15, made sure there was no more drama as they steered the team home in an unbeaten stand of 35.

It was Bengaluru's fourth win and third on the bounce in 11 matches as they jumped from the bottom of the table to seventh and keep their slim play-off hopes alive.

Gujarat's hopes are also hanging by a thread as they slumped to their seventh loss in 11 matches.

(With AFP Inputs)