Karthik holds the cards for Mumbai Indians

It’s very rare that, when you see a team like the Mumbai Indians with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting dominating related discussions, it is the spunk of a certain Dinesh Karthik that ultimately shines through. There’s a definite sense of optimism wafting through cricket fans across Mumbai who truly believe that this time it indeed is their year after five seasons of hype, hoopla and humiliation. And Dinesh Karthik has the biggest hand to play in that change of attitude.

Four games down and the Mumbai middle-order is already laying claims on being the best in the tournament. Pondulkar’s disappointing performances are cunningly being over-shadowed by the class act on display at numbers three, four and five. At the helm of this triad of terror stands the diminutive Dinesh Karthik, creaming the ball around the park with elegant strokes rather than the much-acclaimed ‘inventiveness’ that the tournament usually offers.

The unlikely holder of the Orange Cap, Karthik brings an easy disposition along with him when at the crease and rarely looks hampered by proceedings around him. There’s a childlike maturity that supervises his demeanour, like a four-year old being asked to carry his baby brother for the first time. Every opportunity that is presented to him, he takes it like a massive challenge regardless of what we think of it. Every year, there is a certain player whose form dictates the performance of a particular team, and this time it could be Karthik for the Mumbai Indians.

Tendulkar and Ponting’s below-par performances have ruffled tons of feathers, but class is and always will be permanent. You’d have expected the team to revolve around the two stalwarts of the game, but that hasn’t been the case. They’ve struggled and wriggled their way through the overs (barring Tendulkar’s high-octane batting today) and put the breaks on the scoring on a regular basis. Mumbai Indians had the lowest average in the first six overs of batting before today, but the middle order washes away that blemish by rocketing the team to dizzy heights towards the end. Karthik’s position at number three, as a result of the unsteady opening partnership, becomes the hinge that could tilt Mumbai to high scores, or a complete and total mess.

Karthik has become, against all odds, the fulcrum of the MI batting line-up. Rohit Sharma, who has convinced the universe that he is the ultimate IPL expert, is patchy at best. He could win you a game today, and drop your egg-salad tomorrow. While the man has the shoulders to carry the team on, it’s more of a gamble than a certainty when talking about his form. Pollard is the trump card of the pack. Whether he comes good or bad, you’re always glad to have him somewhere down the line. Being completely dependent on Pollard though is not the smartest idea you’ll think of, which is why we have Karthik at the forefront all of a sudden. The big spotlight on him, all eyes waiting to see another well-paced innings from the Chennai boy, and now the only question is whether he delivers the goods or not.