If there was an election held today in either India or Sri Lanka, there would be no doubt that Dinesh Karthik will have won by a whopping majority. In one of the shortest match-winning innings ever played, Karthik redeemed himself with a knock-out punch that consisted 29 runs in eight balls.
India was staring down the barrel when Mustafizur Rehman finished his best over of the tournament. The death-overs specialist left-arm seamer sent down a wicket-maiden with Vijay Shankar struggling to even touch the ball with his bat. Going into the last two overs, India required 34 runs to win, almost three runs per ball.
Sensing an opportunity to choke the opposition, Shakib entrusted the penultimate over to Rubel Hossain who had conceded only 13 runs in his three overs so far. New Batsman Dinesh Karthik was on strike. Bangladesh had the match firm in their grasp… only till this ball.
The first ball of the 19th over, Dinesh Karthik standing outside his crease, converted a yorker into a low full-toss and smacked it straight over long-on, SIX! Indians and Sri Lankan fans in the attendance suddenly found their voice back. Little did they know, that they will have a sore throat by the end of it.
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Next ball, Karthik positioned himself outside the off-stump and thwacked the delivery to the right of long-on, the fielder an inches away from the ball, stood witness to the speck of white ball crossing the boundary ropes. Karthik TEN from two balls.
Rubel was now fuming, the Bangladeshis could see the Nidahas Trophy slipping away. Further dent came on the next ball as Karthik slammed the next ball over deep square leg for another six. The target now for India, 18 from nine balls.
Somehow containing Karthik for the next two balls, Rubel breathed a little easier. With a part-time bowler bowling the last over, Bangladesh needed to save as many runs as possible. Karthik lofted these plans over fine-leg as he ramped another boundary. India now needed 12 runs from the last over.
Batting 12 off 15 balls at the other end, this well could have been the life-changing moment for Vijay Shankar. Two big shots and he would become an Indian hero. Life had a different script, though. He holed out on the second last ball of the match, right after he had squeezed a boundary through point and gully.
India now needed five runs from the last ball with Dinesh Karthik on strike. Anything less than four and Bangladesh would have won, a four would have taken the final into super-over and a six would crown India as the winner. Saumya Sarkar ran-in to bowl what was the most important ball of his career so far.
The ball pitching outside off-stump provided ample length for Dinesh Karthik to get under the ball and loft it over the vacant extra-cover region. The ball just managed to cross the boundary rope and a billion hearts leaped in joy!
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The blitzkrieg from Dinesh Karthik scripted a finish that would have been dismissed had it been a movie. His 8-ball 23 runs innings is undoubtedly the most heroic moment in his career that has spanned over 14 years. Indians finally considered him as their own.
Before the final, Dinesh Karthik speaking to media had said, “One bad tournament and I’ll be on my way out”. With his one knock of 23 not out, he set Bangladesh on their way out.
Relive the moments here.
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