The competition for wicketkeeping slots in the national cricket team has sparked discussions, with India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, shedding light on the complexities involved. In a recent appearance on the Club Prairie Fire podcast, Rohit delved into the potential returns of veterans MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik, particularly for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Expressing admiration for Dhoni’s recent IPL heroics, especially his blitz of 20* runs off just four balls against Mumbai Indians, Rohit acknowledged the game-changing impact of Dhoni’s cameo at the Wankhede Stadium. “I was quite impressed, especially with Dinesh. The way he batted a couple of nights back. Dhoni, as well, came to play 4 balls, and made a huge impact, with those 20 runs. That was eventually the difference in the game,” Rohit Sharma remarked.
However, Rohit Sharma hinted at the challenges of persuading Dhoni to return to international cricket, suggesting that the former skipper may be reluctant due to personal commitments.
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“It’ll be hard to convince MSD to come to the West Indies, I guess. He is sick and tired. He is coming to the US, though, to do something else. He is into golf, so he will play golf, I guess,” Rohit added. Conversely, Rohit suggested that convincing Karthik, who has been in stellar form in the IPL 2024, might be more feasible. “DK will be easy to convince, I guess,” Rohit Sharma remarked.
Dinesh Karthik’s standout performances for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, including a crucial 83 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, have put him in contention for national team selection. Rohit’s on-field banter with Karthik, captured by stump mics, added fuel to the speculation surrounding Karthik’s potential inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad.
Rohit playfully remarked, “He will have to push for his World Cup selection, he has the World Cup (T20) on his mind,” during a match against RCB.
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Reflecting on his remarks, Rohit clarified that he aimed to apply some pressure on Karthik. “I was just trying to put some pressure on him. Eventually, after the game against SRH, he went and spoke after the SRH game. I think that some captain was asking if I was ready for the World Cup, this is the answer from me,” Rohit Sharma concluded.
