ICC World Cup 2019: Team India are happy to chase or be chased, insists Dinesh Karthik

Leeds, July 5: Teams batting first might have dominated in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 but India cricketer Dinesh Karthik insists that the Men In Blue are still just as happy chasing. India have chased just two times in this tournament and came out victorious once while ended up on the losing side in the other.

A 28-run victory at Edgbaston secured India a place in the semi-finals, and depending on results, they could return to Birmingham in the final four. That would mean a rematch with England, who India lost to at Edgbaston by 31 runs in the group stages.

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But while India were beaten while chasing in that game, and teams have been much more successful batting first in the second half of this tournament, and the wicket-keeper batsman - who made his long-awaited World Cup bow against Bangladesh on Tuesday - believes India are still comfortable in both the scenarios.

"I think India is a team there have been good chasers for a long time we're very confident of chasing," he said, ahead of India's final group game with Sri Lanka at Headingley.

"I think the reason (teams have struggled batting second) is they're worried about the scoreboard pressure. But having said that, I think we as a team believe that we're good chasers, because that's what we do day in, day out.

"And we're a team that actually has the ability to handle pressure very well. We'd back ourselves to chase and get the totals that we believe we can achieve," said the Tamil Nadu cricketer.

.@DineshKarthik on the team's mentality going into the game against Sri Lanka 🗣️🗣️ #TeamIndia #SLvIND #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/ZZjvCobE65

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 5, 2019

Karthik got his first chance in this tournament in the win over Bangladesh, coming into the side as a specialist batsman with MS Dhoni keeping wicket.

Batting at seven, he made eight runs as India tried to up the pace in the later overs, and Karthik insists he is comfortable in that role.

He added: "I've been around for 15 years, so to play that game (against Bangladesh), I was really happy. I went to the World Cup in 2007, which actually didn't go as well as we had planned. And for me to come here and sit out the initial bit and then get a chance was something that I was really looking forward to.

"I think it's a very important phase of this tournament and I'd like to do the best I can moving forward for Team India.

That feeling when you are happy to play a World Cup 😃🙂 - @DineshKarthik #TeamIndia #SLvIND #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/0QEZdn7ZOw

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 5, 2019

"I think the coaches have been very clear on what my role has been. When I go in at No. 7, I need to assess the situation of the game and then play accordingly.

"If obviously we need to cross the line when we're batting second, then I need to pace myself accordingly.

"If you're batting first, then make sure we get to the par score that's required. They've made it clear that this is where I'll be batting, and my role is to make sure, whatever the situation is, assess it and do the best that I can."