In IPL 2023, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has had mixed results so far. In eight games this season, they have four wins and the same number of losses, placing them sixth in the standings. Irfan Pathan, a former cricketer for India, emphasised that RCB's middle order was solely responsible for all four losses. While the middle order has struggled in nearly every game this season, Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, and Glenn Maxwell have been in outstanding form. After pointing out Dinesh Karthik's performance in each of the eight games, Pathan launched a vicious assault on him and demanded his dismissal.
The lowest of all 10 teams in IPL 2023, RCB's middle order (Nos. 4 to 7) has only amassed 404 runs in eight games. Together, they have averaged only 20.20, which is the second-worst mark behind Delhi Capitals (16.6), with a boundary occurring almost every six balls, the lowest mark ever.
Last year, an improved Kartik was a revelation who astounded cricket veterans, experts, and even India selectors with his finishing prowess. His talent allowed him to rejoin the Indian squad despite having dropped significantly from consideration for a spot in any format. Later, he was even named to the team for the T20 World Cup. However, Karthik has had a terrible time in 2023. Karthik has scored 83 of those 404 runs throughout the course of seven innings. Among middle-order hitters who have faced at least 50 balls this season, his average of 13.83 is the second-worst.
As the team prepares to play Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium, Irfan unleashed a no-holds-barred assault on Karthik in a statement to Star Sports. He urged RCB to decide whether to keep him in the starting lineup.
“RCB will need to find a solution as to who would captain the team if Kohli, Glenn, and Faf are unable to do so. Whether it be Mahipal Lomror or Dinesh Karthik,” Pathan said. RCB's middle order seems to be exceedingly frail. Karthik failed to show the squad that they can depend on him for huge scores or during chases even once in the past eight games. The RCB management has to close this gap in their batting.
