Newly crowned skipper of KKR Dinesh Karthik and RCB skipper Virat Kohli are poles apart. While Kohli is known for his aggression on the field, Karthik likes to keep a calm behavior in the middle. However, soon after being named the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Karthik said that when it comes to inspiration, he looks no further than the Indian skipper.
“Virat Kohli leads from the front. He sets an example with his own performances. That is something I would like to do as well — lead by an example rather than by too many words,” said the Tamil Nadu cricketer after KKR CEO Venky Mysore announced him as the captain of the side during a live TV show on Star Sports in Mumbai on Sunday.
Talking about his mild image on the field, the wicket-keeper batsman said he likes to show aggression in his own way. “By nature, I am not that aggressive outwardly. But from inside, I am very aggressive. I like to do small things on the field that really matter --- like looking into the eyes of your rivals. I love to be there in tough situations and face the heat. I am not going to stop players who want to express their aggression on the field, although I would try to control them to ensure they don’t get fined.”
The 32-year-old, who was bought for Rs 7.4 crore by the KKR in the auctions, was quite happy with the resources at his disposal, especially the overseas recruits and Indian wrist-spinners.