Vivo IPL 2021: Dinesh Karthik ready to lead KKR in UAE, confirms unavailability of Pat Cummins

Vivo IPL 2021: Dinesh Karthik ready to lead KKR in UAE, confirms unavailability of Pat Cummins.

Vivo IPL 2021: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) senior cricketer Dinesh Karthik in his recent interaction with the Times of India confirmed that the Aussie pacer will be unavailable for the second half of the IPL.

With the dates getting closer to September, the Indian cricket authorities have been under pressure to bring back overseas players for the second leg of the Vivo IPL 2021, which was suspended on May 4 due to multiple covid cases inside the bio-bubble. Due to the jam-packed international schedules of their respective national sides, the overseas players won't be able to make it to the UAE for the remaining 31 games.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has already clarified their stance on their player's participation. The Managing Director of England Men?s Cricket Team, Ashley Giles earlier stated that the players will be given rest, however, it will not mean that they will be allowed to feature in other cricket tournaments.

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A few days after the statement from ECB, Australian pacer Pat Cummins was also reported to be out of the second leg. Cummins who was with KKR for over a month now wants to spend time with his pregnant wife. For now, Dinesh Karthik has put a stamp on Pat Cummins' unavailability.

?Cummins has said he is not coming but there?s still three months and Morgan may still be available,? said Dinesh Karthik to Times of India.

Karthik who earlier led KKR is once again ready to take over the reins of the team if Eoin Morgan pulls back his name.

?But if I am asked to lead, I don?t have a problem,? Karthik added.

The Vivo IPL 2021 is expected to begin 18th September in the UAE with a month long window under target.

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