The veteran Indian cricketer, Dinesh Karthik is well aware of the reason for his exclusion from India’s ODI squad after an underwhelming 2019 World Cup. However, he has no idea why he has been neglected from the shortest format as he has been making significant contributions. He is used to making comebacks but to make another one will be tougher for him at the age of 34.
During an interview with PTI, Karthik said, “My record in T20s has been good. I could understand the One-day bit (being dropped from ODIs) but even now I would like to think that I stand a good chance in returning to the T20 side. I have done well even in the recent domestic games that I have played. I have no reason to doubt myself (that I can’t make another comeback).”
It was a rollercoaster ride for Karthik leading up to the World Cup as he was dropped for the home ODI series against Australia, India’s last before the showpiece event. However, the selectors picked Rishabh Pant ahead of him despite his “better” wicket-keeping skills.
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In fact, Indian team management was heavily criticized for fielding three specialist keepers (MS Dhoni, Rishabh Pant and Karthik) in playing XI in the semi-final while ignoring specialist batsman Kedar Jadhav. Currently, KL Rahul is being tried as a wicket-keeper batsman in limited-overs cricket at the expense of Pant.
The KKR captain, who was preparing hard for the IPL before the lockdown was announced, seems to be comfortable in his own skin.
Karthik explained, “That is how the sport has always been for me. It (being out of the team) is not something new to me so I am comfortable in the space that I am in. There is a T20 World Cup round the corner and I know if I do well, I stand a good chance of making the team. It is my duty to get better as a player and the rest will take care of itself.”
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The IPL, which has been postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, would have been an ideal platform for Karthik to make his case for his umpteenth comeback.
On how he is dealing with the lockdown, he added: “If at all, anybody is well acclimatized for a situation like this, it is the sportspersons. We tend to move around the world, stay in hotel rooms all alone, so to a large extent we are used to it. The whole world is doing it (staying at home) at the moment, fighting for one cause. Hopefully, we can eradicate this virus.”
