Karthik has emerged as India’s designated finisher in T20Is since his comeback.
In a country like India which has such a vibrant bench strength, making a comeback to the national team at the age of 37 was almost unheard of. However, this is exactly what veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has done.
He was recalled back to the national team after having the most successful season of his life in the IPL 2022. His performance level since making a comeback has been so strong that he has succeeded in replacing Rishabh Pant from the team.
Ricky Ponting, the former captain of Australia, revered Karthik's historic return to the Indian T20I team and called the seasoned cricketer one of the best finishers in the shortest format right now.
Ponting remarked that he is both ‘pleased and surprised’ by Karthik's career path because, at one point in 2021, it appeared that his Indian career in all three formats was coming to an end when he was commentating during India’s tour of England.
"It looked like his Indian career was over, probably in all three formats. He was not a retained player for KKR in IPL. Today is one of the best finishers in the T20 game which he probably never really thought to be. I thought his playing days were over and he was transferring himself to the commentary box. But he was transforming the other way. I am pleased and quite surprised at the way he had turned his career in the last couple of months," he said in a video posted by the ICC.
"Right now, I believe he is one of the best finishers in the T20 game”
Here's a clip from the interview:
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The legendary cricketer remarked that given the 37-year-recent old's pristine form, the Indian team could not avoid naming him in their playing XI of the T20 World Cup 2022.
"It is not an easy thing to do at that age. Getting better is not easy. The one thing that I know about Indian players is that they never give up. The way Dinesh has played, he has made it impossible for the team to not pick him," he added.
The Men in Blue will begin their T20 World Cup 2022 campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at the iconic MCG on Sunday (October 23).
(ICC INPUTS)