'DK you'll be playing the finisher's role,' Karthik reveals chat with Bangar post IPL auction

Dinesh Karthik has been in sensational form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, having already smashed 197 runs in six innings at a strike-rate of 209. Most recently, he scored a 34-ball 66 against Delhi Capitals (DC) to help Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to a 16-run victory.

Karthik, who was bought in the IPL 2022 auction for INR 5.5 crore, revealed that a conversation with head coach Sanjay Bangar helped him prepare for the season better. 

"I think there's a small-term goal and there's a bigger version as well. So, I think the small-term goal is to do well for the RCB," Karthik said.

"So, I think credit to the RCB backroom staff. The day I got picked, Sanjay bhai called and told me, 'DK you'll be playing the finisher's role'. We have lost out on AB so we can't replace him with anybody who is half as good as him.

"So, we are going to have 2-3 players who will try and do that role. He is that good.

"So, then I took it upon myself to figure out that this is what I need to do. I have been practising for so long and that was the small-term goal."

De Villiers retired from all forms of cricket after the 2021 season after spending a decade at RCB. Overall, the former South Africa batter finished with 5,162 runs from 184 matches.

RCB, who have now won four out of their six matches, take on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai on Tuesday (April 19).