Dubai: India’s 2018 Under-19 World Cup-winning pace duo of Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti led a clinical bowling display to help Kolkata Knight Riders register a comprehensive 37-run win over Rajasthan Royals in their IPL match here on Wednesday.
Mavi and Nagarkoti, who battled injuries in the last two seasons, claimed two wickets apiece, while Varun Chakravarthy also got two to restrict the Royals to 137 for 9 in 20 overs while chasing a target of 175.
This was after star Australian pacer Pat Cummins (1/19 from 3 overs) dismissed Steve Smith (3) as the Royals crumbled on a tricky run chase to suffer their first defeat after two successive wins.
For KKR, this was their second successive victory and they jumped to second spot behind Delhi Capitals.
Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Dinesh Karthik finds it heartening that his team’s young guns have raised the bar with match-winning IPL performances but does not want to get carried away and put extra burden on the talented bunch as the tournament progresses.
The KKR skipper praised the trio but with a note of caution.
Definitely, I think the fact that these young boys are doing well is very good. I don’t think we should get too carried away and, you know, make it a lot about them, just the fact that they”re doing well is very good, Karthik said during the post-match virtual interaction here.
For Karthik, it is important that his youngsters don’t feel the extra pressure as they go deep into the tournament.
I don’t want to add pressure on them by making them feel that they are the ones that we are dependent on… There are fabulous cricketers around them as well who will play a role and make them look even better than what they are.
Mavi grabbed the two big wickets of Jos Buttler and in-form Sanju Samson in his match-winning show, while Nagarkoti ripped the middle order with two wickets — Robin Uthappa and Riyan Parag — in four deliveries to derail the Royals in a tricky chase of 175.
At the 2018 auction, Nagarkoti, then 18, was snapped up for Rs 3.2 crore, while Mavi, 19, commanded a price of Rs 3 crore.
But the young quicks endured some injury setbacks, especially Nagarkoti who was ruled out of two seasons but KKR continued to repose faith in them.
Cummins is an extraordinary role model for everybody. ‘To have a player like him around is a confidence-booster because. He’s so good with the young kids and he’s just great to have around the team.
I think the boys are learning a lot. The fact that he’s interacting with all these guys not only on-the-field but making a genuine effort off-the-field makes a massive difference’
Karthik also hailed the team’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy who bagged two wickets to help KKR restrict the Royals for 137/9.