By: Shrishti Mehra
Days before, India skipper Rohit Sharma quietly alluded to the veteran cricketer’s potential inclusion in the World Cup squad. This was followed by Dinesh Karthik’s remark.
Veteran batsman-wickekeeper Dinesh Karthik has entered the battle to rejoin the national team for the ICC tournament, with just over a week to go until BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar reveals the 15-member roster for the T20 World Cup. Days prior to Karthik’s statement, India skipper Rohit Sharma had quietly stated that the veteran cricketer is vying to be included in the World Cup squad.
This IPL season, Karthik has made yet another incredible comeback. With incredible power to strike at a rate well above 200, he has elevated his batting to a completely new level in 2024. Karthik, who bats in the lower middle order for RCB, who have had a terrible season thus far, has scored 226 runs in seven games, making him the team’s third-highest run scorer after captain Faf du Plessis (232) and Virat Kohli (361).
On the eve of RCB’s game against the Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday, Karthik made his formal entry into the competition to secure the Indian team’s wicketkeeping position, pitting him against players such as Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson. He made this announcement while speaking to the media in Kolkata.
It would be the most fulfilling feeling for me to represent India at this point in my life. I can’t wait to do that. As Karthik, who will turn 39 in June, put it, “there is nothing bigger in my life other than representing India in this T20 World Cup.” Additionally, he participated in the final Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in 2022, which is still his final tournament appearance wearing Indian colors.
Despite not being considered for a World Cup spot, Karthik’s outstanding batting performance created some excitement about the prospect going into the 2024 Indian Premier League. In response to the clamor, Rohit stated that it would be simpler to persuade the RCB hitter to play for India once more during an interview with former Australia batsman Adam Gilchrist and former England captain Michael Vaughan on the Club Prairie Fire podcast earlier this week.
“I was quite impressed while seeing DK bat a couple of nights ago, and Dhoni also came in to play four balls, which made a great difference. Despite the fact that MS is visiting the United States, convincing him to do something else will be difficult. He is currently enjoying golf. “DK will be easier to persuade, I suppose,” Rohit remarked.
There is now more competition for the wicketkeeping position as Karthik enters the T20 World Cup. As the IPL 2024 season approaches its midway point, Pant has solidified his position as the favorite, having struck two half-centuries for the Delhi Capitals and then three fifties for the Rajasthan Royals. Samson is the second-leading candidate for the position.
In addition, there is Ishan Kishan, who has been playing fantastically for the Mumbai Indians up the order, and KL Rahul, who is now the leading run scorer among the aspirants for the wicketkeeping position after his innings of 83 against the Chennai Super Kings on Friday in Lucknow.
Karthik ended by stating that he would follow the decisions made by head coach Rahul Dravid, Rohit, and Agarkar.
“In addition, I think Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma, and Ajit Agarkar are the three extremely reliable and trustworthy individuals in charge of selecting the greatest Indian team for the World Cup. Furthermore, I wholeheartedly concur. Every choice they make is respected. However, I can only assure you that I am fully prepared and will make every effort to board the plane to the World Cup.”