Dinesh Karthik and his comeback story can inspire a million. Cricket is not a game about the bats and the balls, it is not about the players but the stories associated with the players. One such story is of Dinesh Karthik. This legend of Tamil Nadu Cricket, in fact of Indian Cricket, has always given the sport his whole heart. So, what has his life been like? Here is an in-depth look:
Dinesh Karthik Debuted in 2003:
Dinesh Karthik played for the national team before MS Dhoni did. Because his career was almost blown away by MSD, this fact matters a lot. However, Karthik was impressive in all the limited opportunities that he got. He might have not been the best wicket-keeper batter of India but whenever the selectors looked away from MSD, Dinesh Karthik was a no-brainer. He also accompanied the team to the 2003 World Cup in Australia. This was one experience that added value to his career.
Dinesh Karthik Played in the 2007 World Cups:
Karthik was a part of the setup in the year 2007. After a dreadful performance by the Indian team in the 2007 ODI World Cup, Karthik was picked for the T20 World Cup. This was the first T20 World Cup ever. All the young faces had joined forces to represent the men in blue and Karthik was an integral part of the team. His spectacular catch in the game against South Africa can never be forgotten. Dinesh Karthik also happens to be the “Man of the Match” in the first-ever T20I that India played. The game was against South Africa in 2006.
Karthik played in the 2013 Champions Trophy:
Dinesh Karthik was not a part of the Indian Cricket team in 2012. He played exceptionally well in the 2013 IPL season. He took the Mumbai Indians to their first-ever IPL victory. His performance was so good that he broke into the national team. He was chosen for the 2013 Champions Trophy. In the practice game against Sri Lanka, Karthik scored a hundred. From then on, he was chosen as a pure batter in the team. India eventually won the 2013 Champions Trophy.
2017 Nidahas Trophy Final:
Dinesh Karthik’s “India’s Hero” moment came in 2017 in the Nidahas Trophy final. India required 32 odd runs in the last 2 overs. Karthik walked in to bat at number 7. he was agitated by Rohit Sharma’s choice to send him so low to bat, but that move was going to create history. Karthik scored 23 runs in 8 balls. The team required 5 runs of 1 ball and Dinesh Karthik hit the ball for a six.
Dinesh Karthik Commentary and Comeback Story:
Karthik was a part of the 2019 ODI World Cup squad. He was a member of the team that played the semi-final against New Zealand. But after India’s loss, players like him, Kedar Jadhav, and Dinesh Karthik were made scapegoats and sacked. Karthik captained KKR in the IPL in the meanwhile. He later shifted to doing commentary as a part-time gig. Vikrant Gupta, the lead reporter of Sportstak, wrote Karthik off! But Dinesh had an exceptional IPL 2022 with RCB. He took them to the playoffs single-handedly. He was then chosen for the national team. This time in the absence of MSD and as a pure finisher. He earned his spot.
To know more go to Suryakumar Yadav Slams a 100 in T20Is. Other Indian Batters to Score a Hundred in T20Is.
Read more at Wicket-Keeper Batters: Top 5 Wicket-Keeper Batters to Ever Play the Game.
To know more go to ICC T20 World Cup 2022: Indian Squad, Schedule, Date, Time, and Venues.
Read more at the official website of the BCCI.