IPL 2021: KKR's Dinesh Karthik reprimanded for breaching code of conduct

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) wicket-keeper batter and former captain Dinesh Karthik has been reprimanded for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during his side's Qualifier 2 game against the Delhi Capitals on Wednesday in Sharjah.

"Karthik admitted to the Level 1 offence 2.2 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct and accepted the sanction. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee’s decision is final and binding," the official statement read.

The nature of the offence was not mentioned in the release but a frustrated Karthik could be seen dislodging the stumps after he got out in the 18th over of KKR's innings during a period of hara-kiri for the two-time champions when they lost six wickets for seven runs.

However, the Knight Riders eventually got over the line with Rahul Tripathi hitting a six off Ravichandran Ashwin as from needing 13 runs off 25 balls, the equation somehow came down to 6 needed off two balls, but Tripathi kept his calm to get KKR to their third final.

It was the opening pair of Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer, who with a 96-run stand on a slow Sharjah surface broke the back of the chase of 135 runs. Venkatesh Iyer slammed his third half-century in nine games and has been one of the big reasons for KKR's revival in the second half.

KKR with seven wins in nine games in the second half turned their campaign around dramatically as from struggling to stitch a few wins together, they have now qualified for the final and will be looking to maintain their 100 percent record in the finals.