Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu commended Chennai Super Kings’ young player Kartik Sharma for his remarkable 71-run innings against Lucknow Super Giants. Kartik’s aggressive knock, scoring 71 off 42 balls with six fours and five sixes, helped CSK despite their loss at the Ekana Stadium.
Rayudu, speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show, highlighted Kartik’s exceptional preparation against pace bowling, emphasizing his adaptability and skill in facing varied challenges on the field. The veteran player praised Kartik’s ability to handle spin bowling effectively and quickly assess the length of the deliveries.
According to Rayudu, Kartik is evolving into a versatile middle-order batsman, demonstrating prowess in both pace and spin bowling. Rayudu expressed confidence in Kartik’s potential to further enhance his gameplay, especially in terms of strike rate and decision-making on different pitch conditions.
Acknowledging Kartik’s rapid progress, Rayudu noted the youngster’s significant improvement since moving up the batting order for CSK. Kartik’s recent performances at No. 4 and No. 5 positions have showcased his adaptability and learning curve, reflecting his promising future in the team.
In the match, CSK posted a competitive total of 187/5, largely propelled by Kartik’s innings and Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 32. However, Lucknow Super Giants secured a comfortable victory, driven by Mitchell Marsh’s impressive 90 runs and a solid opening partnership of 135 runs with Josh Inglis.
