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Xtra Time Web Desk: With the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Director Ashley Giles making it clear that England players will not be available for IPL 2021 Phase 2, it puts IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a spot. England white ball captain Eoin Morgan was also the man in charge for the Knight Riders in IPL 2021 before it was suspended due to multiple COVID-19 cases among different franchises. It will put the KKR management in a dilemma whether to fall back on old guard Dinesh Karthik or name someone new as stand by captain.

Dinesh Karthik was the captain for KKR after Gautam Gambhir left the franchise in 2018 season. The Tamil Nadu wicket keeper batsman has failed to deliver in the three seasons he was in the hot seat, leading the franchise to appoint Eoin Morgan mid-way into the IPL 2020 season in UAE. England’s white-ball captain Morgan hasn’t shined with the role either.

It remains to be seen if the KKR management bring back DK as the leader for the remaining matches of IPL 2021 which got suspended due to the surge in COVID-19. Looking at the KKR squad, there are not many options either apart from Australia’s test and ODI captain Pat Cummins. But the problem with Cummins is whether he will be available or not as Cricket Australia is yet to decide on letting their cricketers available for IPL 2021 Phase 2.

If Karthik agrees to continue to play the vice-captain role, Cummins could fit right in as the captain. The ball is now in KKR management’s court to take a call before the season restarts in UAE.