India did not have the best of games against New Zealand last year during the World Test Championship final as they lost the trophy quite comprehensively to the hands of the Kiwis. The team did face quite a few tough questions following the defeat, but wins and losses are a part of the game, aren’t they? However, in the backdrop of the game, what excited a large mass of Indian fans was something that was going on in the commentary box of the Ageas Bowl. Dinesh Karthik was there as one of the two Indians selected to commentate for the big final in Southampton. On his first assignment as a commentator, the keeper stumped every listener with his coruscating skills on the Day 1 itself.
His excellent play with the words earned him over a million praises. Karthik was everywhere thereafter covering various games and tournaments. However, his success with the mic paved way for a few claims asserting that Karthik has unofficially called time on his prolonged career with the bat and gloves. Karthik, though, was back to complete his tenure with the Knight Riders in the latter half of IPL 2021, his future in the league seemed obscure. A string of poor outings and age against his side resulted in KKR parting ways with him after the season.
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Comeback is always stronger than the setback
There’s an adage – that comeback is always stronger than the setback. Dinesh Karthik assured that the statement holds true for him as well. Instead of making his way back to the commentary box after the IPL, Karthik decided to play for Tamil Nadu. He came back as strong as he ever was in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Batting in the middle order, Karthik smashed 376 runs in 7 innings to take his team to the final of the tournament. He averaged over 53 while he struck at a rate close to 99. Karthik notched up a spectacular hundred in the final against Himachal Pradesh but couldn’t guide his team to the trophy.
Continuing from where he left in the VHT, Karthik has now become the backbone of an RCB side already having three stalwarts of T20 cricket. Kohli is going through the worst form of his career while Maxwell and Faf haven’t set the world on fire. In times of crisis, one of the oldest members of the league, in the form of Dinesh Karthik, stepped up. He has already bailed the team out multiple times and with one more league game left, which turns out to be a must-win game for RCB, the team would want another impact knock from DK. Had the dubious Faf sent him higher in the order, the story might have been different for his team. RCB’s chances of qualification, now, are held by a thin wire. They have to beat the table-toppers Gujarat Titans and hope for other results to go their way.
Beating the odds
Dinesh Karthik’s comeback was not as straightforward as it might seem. The Tamil Nadu batsman suffered a knee injury just before the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last year. The injury delayed his comeback as he had to miss out on the premier T20 tournament. Karthik did score very well in the VHT but he had a decently long lay-off between his final VHT appearance and the first match of IPL 2022.
During this period, the mega auction took place. While some had doubts if he’ll find a buyer, Karthik was sure of his demand. He set a staggering base price of INR 2 crores and triggered a bidding war between RCB and CSK. Eventually, RCB acquired him for INR 5.5 crores, an amount that even Karthik might have been unsure of. The difference between a purchase and retention is that of the vision. Retentions are long-term strategies while purchases might be made for short-term goals. The same fact worked in favour of Dinesh Karthik, who’s not getting younger with time.
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The World Cup is not so far
His maturity with the bat, excellent game sense and quick hands behind the stumps have ignited his hopes of playing for India again. The recent reports suggest that Dinesh Karthik might be picked for the upcoming 5-match T20 series against South Africa. If it turns out to be true, then Karthik would play his first international match after 3 years. The last match he played for India was the gloomy semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
Various experts and former selectors want to see Karthik in the T20 World Cup later this year. Though the showpiece event is still quite far, it won’t be incorrect to say that Karthik does have a solid case for himself. The most intriguing part of Indian cricket is that scenarios tend to change with every series. Thus, it will be important for Karthik to perform consistently if given a chance in the near future. Quite obviously, the first major task ahead of him is to get selected for the series against South Africa. And interestingly so, Karthik has nothing he can do with this task except to perform in whatever games he has left for RCB this season.
