The veteran Indian wicket-keeper, Dinesh Karthik has said that if former Indian skipper, Virat Kohli is not available, then Rahul Tripathi should be the first choice to replace him. Tripathi played a fiery knock of 44 runs as India destroyed New Zealand by 168 runs to clinch the three-match T20I series 2-1. Speaking to Cricbuzz, Karthik said India needs players like Tripathi because he will play a certain way no matter what the situation or pressure is.
Dinesh Karthik explained, “The beauty about him is that’s his DNA. To go out there and irrespective of how big the situation is, how big the game is, these are the kind of players you’ll need because in the big matches, he’ll do exactly that.”
The gloveman said that should Kohli ever be unavailable for selection in T20Is then Tripathi should be the first batter to replace him.
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Explaining the same, Dinesh Karthik said, “I think we shouldn’t forget that in 3 months’ time, 6 months’ time. Maybe he’ll have a good IPL, maybe he won’t but he deserves that Indian team number 3 spot whenever that comes. If Virat Kohli chooses to play okay but if Virat Kohli is not around he should be the first choice, not someone who has done well somewhere else.”
Dinesh Karthik said Tripathi was choosing to go with the aggressive option even when his career was on the line, only to do what the team needs him to in a must-win match.
Elaborating the same, Dinesh Karthik said, “Let’s be aware of the situation, the intent, and the context every time he has walked in. Selflessly, knowing probably his career was on the line but still taking the aggressive option, still taking the big shot option, high-risk option. Trusting to do that because his team needs him to do that in a must-win game.”
The Indian gloveman said Rahul Tripathi did a great job against Sri Lanka and now against New Zealand, insisting he did exactly what the captain and coach wanted.
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Dinesh Karthik explained, “When his career was on the line, he did a fabulous job in the last game against Sri Lanka and this game. He’s not someone who’s gonna get many chances, still he went out with that aggression, took high risk options and did exactly what the captain and the coach wanted,” the veteran cricketer added.”
