Karthik played played 26 Tests, 94 ODIs, and 60 T20Is for India.
Dinesh Karthik, a former Indian cricketer, has claimed that MS Dhoni made him a chameleon because he had to play a variety of positions in order to join the Indian team following the latter's debut.
Despite making his India debut three months ahead of Dhoni in 2004, Karthik struggled to make an impression on the squad as the latter quickly established himself as the team's top wicketkeeper-batter.
Karthik recalled how MS Dhoni left everyone in awe thanks to his brute power-hitting early in his career, leading him to cement his spot in the Indian team quickly.
“I hadn’t seen him play much. But during that A series in Kenya, everyone was talking about one player, because he brought something new. The power with which he hit the ball was something people said they hadn’t seen before. Some were even comparing him to Gary Sobers, known for those massive sixes. MS Dhoni had a very different technique, but he was hitting the ball as hard as anyone people had ever witnessed. That was the buzz at the time,” said Karthik at India Today Conclave South 2025.
“Back then, India was using Rahul Dravid as the wicketkeeper. But Dravid had reached a point where he said, ‘Boss, I just want to focus on my batting. My body’s going through a lot trying to keep wickets.’ So, the team started looking for a proper wicketkeeper. I stepped in briefly, like a guest appearance in a movie. But the lead role was always meant for Dhoni. And when he arrived, he didn’t just impress India; he completely swept everyone off their feet. Very soon, he was making waves in international cricket as well,” Karthik added.
Karthik revealed how Dhoni’s impact led to him getting to adapt to different roles to find a spot in the Indian team and facing unique challenges.
"When someone like that comes along, you need to look inward and ask yourself, 'What can I do to bring out the best version of myself?' So, I became a bit like a chameleon. If there was an opening slot available, I’d go back to Tamil Nadu and ask, “Sir, can I open?” I’d score runs as an opener just to find a place in the team. Similarly, if there was a vacancy in the middle order for India, I’d request to bat there—always looking for ways to break into the side. But my real challenge was holding on to that spot. I put so much pressure on myself that, at times, I didn’t do justice to what was really needed,” Karthik said.
“Through that journey, I learned the importance of adapting to whatever is thrown at you—but even more importantly, the need for determination and resilience. I constantly did things that were uncomfortable for most players—like batting at No. 6 or 7 for the last five years of my career. But I embraced that role and used my strengths to succeed in it. MS Dhoni taught me a lot, often in ways that weren’t direct but were deeply impactful,” he added.
Dinesh Karthik last played for India in the 2022 T20 World Cup and called time on his cricketing career after IPL 2024. He played 26 Tests, 94 ODIs, and 60 T20Is in his career and was part of the Indian team that won the 2007 T20 World Cup.
(India Today inputs)