Seasoned wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik recently overtook MS Dhoni to become the leading Indian wicketkeeper in T20 cricket, but the milestone means little to the 38-year-old. Karthik, who has never been motivated by personal bests, reiterated that his greatest achievement is still playing for India and not running after numbers.
Speaking on Sunday (February 16), Karthik acknowledged that while it was “nice to know” he had overtaken Dhoni’s tally of 7,432 T20 runs by reaching 7,537, it wasn’t something he had actively pursued. Having retired from all Indian cricket, including the IPL, Karthik played in the SA20 league for Paarl Royals, while Dhoni remains active and will be leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025, which begins on March 22.
“I played a lot of my cricket dreaming of playing for India,” Dinesh Karthik said in a media interaction. “When I retired from the IPL and Indian cricket six months ago, I knew my time had come. I’ve never been a person obsessed with records—perhaps because I don’t have too many good ones! But it was interesting to hear that I surpassed Dhoni. Honestly, it won’t be long before he surpasses me again, and I have no problem with that. He can keep that record! I didn’t even know about this until you mentioned it. It’s nice, but not something I ever desired.”
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Karthik also became the first Indian cricketer to play in the SA20 league. Scoring 130 runs at a 121.49 strike rate, and playing eight innings in 11 games, he helped Paarl Royals qualify for the playoffs before getting eliminated by MI Cape Town and SunRisers Eastern Cape. Though it was an early elimination, Karthik had a good time in South Africa, especially in the colourful dressing room environment of the Royals.
One of the best moments of his SA20 experience was having a dressing room mate in Joe Root, whom Karthik called one of the greatest personalities in cricket. The England legend, who was renowned for his humility and leadership, was a huge energy booster for the team, particularly with light-hearted activities such as the push-up challenges, which were a hit among fans.
“Playing with Joe Root was a highlight for me. I never talked much to him earlier, but since we belonged to the same team, I understood how such a wonderful guy he is,” Dinesh Karthik said. “He’s a legend, the best batsmen to have played the sport, but the quality that sets him apart is that he’s not arrogant at all. He’d always boost up the youngsters, ensure that every one had enjoyment, and even initiated the dressing room push-ups after the game! His enthusiasm was contagious, and to play with him was one of my finest moments in cricket.”
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Though Karthik’s playing career is now in the past, his rich knowledge of the game will still serve Indian cricket. The veteran wicketkeeper will be included in RCB’s IPL 2025 establishment as their batting coach and mentor, mentoring a new crop of players as the franchise seeks its first-ever IPL title.
