The memories of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy may still hurt Indian cricket fans after the final defeat to the Pakistan national cricket team, but for former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, the tournament remains deeply personal for an entirely different reason. It marked the moment when Virat Kohli played a key role in bringing him back into the Indian dressing room after years on the sidelines.

Karthik had last played an ODI for India in 2014 and was struggling to find his way back into the national setup. However, during IPL 2017, an opportunity unexpectedly opened up when Manish Pandey suffered a left-side strain and was ruled out of India’s Champions Trophy squad.

According to Karthik, Kohli immediately backed his inclusion as Pandey’s replacement, a gesture the veteran batter still remembers with immense gratitude. “Virat called me and said, ‘You’re doing really well,’” Dinesh Karthik revealed during a podcast with Nipun Marya, CEO of iQOO. “And then on the physiotherapy table with Basu sir, he said, ‘Dinesh is playing really well, he should be a part of the Champions Trophy squad.’”

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Although Dinesh Karthik did not get a chance to play during the tournament in England, simply returning to the Indian dressing room after a three-year absence meant a lot to him. More importantly, receiving public support from a player and captain of Kohli’s stature became a major confidence boost.

“An endorsement like that, from a person like him, means a lot,” Dinesh Karthik added. The relationship between Kohli and Karthik grew even stronger in 2022 when they reunited in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru dressing room. That same year, Karthik produced one of the finest IPL seasons of his career and earned a place in India’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia.

Once again, Kohli openly backed Karthik’s comeback and publicly praised his performances.

“He told the world through the media that what I was doing was special and that I should be in the World Cup team,” Dinesh Karthik recalled. “For someone like Virat to acknowledge my journey, that meant everything.”

Karthik also shared that when he recently received an offer to move into coaching, Kohli was among the first people he informed. According to Karthik, Kohli strongly encouraged him to accept the opportunity, believing he would become an excellent coach.

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Beyond cricket, what makes the friendship even more meaningful for Dinesh Karthik is the close bond shared between their families. He revealed that during visits to England and IPL seasons, their families spend significant time together, with his son often interacting with Kohli and Anushka Sharma’s daughter, Vamika. For Karthik, the connection goes far beyond cricket — it is now a friendship built on mutual respect, trust and family bonds that have strengthened over the years.