The Pune Warriors India left-arm spinner has had a good run in the IPL so far, with 6.50 being his worst economy rate in the five games he has played. For any team, 6.50 is a more than acceptable economy rate, and when one considers the fact that Kartik has opened the bowling, the economy rate becomes even greater.

Even his career economy rate in his five-year T20 career so far, in which he has played in England, West Indies, South Africa apart from IPL, is a respectable 6.65. “It’s (opening bowling) something I have been doing for quite some time. Not just in IPL, but even in England and South Africa, I have bowled the first over in a 50-over game,” Kartik said.

Kartik is one of a number of spinners that are opening the bowling for their respective teams at the IPL this season. “They are probably doing it after seeing me,” Kartik said with a smile. “Even Ashwin has been doing it, although he is an off-spinner,” he added.

Kartik believes his IPL run can earn him a recall to India’s squad for the T20 World Cup in September: “I personally believe I have a chance. I might be on the wrong side of 30s, but I think I am still the second best spinner in the country behind Harbhajan, probably alongside Ramesh Powar.u00a0“Obviously these two are off-spinners. Somewhere down the line, you live on hope. I think I am bowling well, and hopefully, things might turn around.”