No conflict between club, country: Murali Kartik

Murali Kartik doesn’t like the hype surrounding his playing for Middlesex in the upcoming Champions League T20.

The left-arm spinner, who still nurses hopes of playing for India, believes that a professional player must give his best for any team that he represents and not be bothered by talks of ‘country versus club’ conflict.

“I never looked at it that way (country vs club) … I would say there is no connection or comparison between the two,” Kartik told The Telegraph over phone.

“When you start playing, you get opportunities to play for different teams. I started my career with a club team (in the Chennai league).

“Then I graduated to the under-15 and under-19 levels before moving on to Ranji and Duleep Trophies, then Irani Cup and India.

“I have been playing for Middlesex for a few years now, which means I have been doing something right. It means that I am good enough, especially as a spinner, to be their overseas player.

“When I was with the Kolkata Knight Riders, people talked about me being born in Chennai, living in Delhi and playing for a Calcutta team, and wondered about the mix of emotions.

“I am patriotic to whichever team I play for. Obviously, India is the biggest thing for me but I am equally patriotic when I represent Middlesex. At the end of the day, it is my reputation at stake.”

Kartik clarified that he would have played for Kolkata Knight Riders had the Shah Rukh Khan-own franchise also made it to the Champions League.