Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) once again find themselves in similar territory, having accumulated just one win from their first five games of the campaign. As questions arise over the RCB management, captain Faf du Plessis and the players' underperformance. Wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik made an intriguing comment, saying cricket, as a game' remains 'captaincy-driven'. The remark from Karthik came during a chat with RCB Michael Vaughan for a podcast. The primary discussion was around the franchise's head coach Andy Flower and his impact in the team.
Karthik suggested that Flower is one of the best he has worked with. But, the veteran cricketer also clarified that the team's current result don't show what Flower has done as cricket remains a captaincy-driven sport, unlike football where coaches have a bigger role to play.
"I reckon he (Flower) has been one of the best that I've worked with, because of the clarity he gives. It's a great case in point, as the support staff can only do that much. It is a captain-driven game, it is a fact. It is not football or basketball, where the manager have such a big role to play on the field of play," Karthik said on Sky Sports.
"If I can give an analogy, (it's like) taking the horse to the water, which he has done. He has provided us with whatever's possible; not only in terms of clarity and roles, but also in terms of giving us space, understanding, travel... giving us the days off after games (too). The way he has managed us so far, I genuinely feel he has been outstanding.
Karthik also had big praise for RCB's Director of Cricket Operations Mo Bobat.
"A word for Mo Bobat too, he has been unbelievable too. It would be unfair if I didn't say that these are two of the best people I've worked with. I know it's only been five games, I know you'd think 'he's won just one, lost four, and he's just praising them no end', but genuinely, back-end is about as good as you can do," Karthik added.