Having endured an underwhelming World Cup 2019, Dinesh Karthik understands the reason for his ouster from India’s ODI team. However, he fails to comprehend his exclusion from the T20I side despite doing wonders in the lower middle-order.
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Karthik was the hero in India’s thrilling victory over Bangladesh in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy final. Subsequently, he played a number of impressive cameos for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and during the tours of Australia, New Zealand.
Karthik is known for making comebacks but to make another one as a 34-year-old will be tougher. He, however, hasn’t lost hope yet.
“My record in T20s has been good. A big tournament like the World Cup did not go exactly as per the plan. I could understand the one day bit (being dropped from ODIs) but even now I would like think that I stand a good chance in returning to the T20 side.
“I have done well even in the recent domestic games that I have played. I have no reason to doubt myself (that I can’t make another comeback),” he told PTI in an exclusive interview.
In 32 T20Is for India, Karthik averages 33.25 while he boasts a remarkable strike-rate of 143.53.
“It does hurt, no doubt about that. I have always had this burning desire to play for my country and it hasn’t diminished one bit,” he replied when asked if it hurts him to get dropped from the shortest format.
Even though he has slipped considerably in the pecking order, Karthik remains optimistic of another comeback. KL Rahul is currently being tried as a wicketkeeper-batsman in white-ball cricket. The likes of Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson are also in the mix.
Despite the disappointment, Karthik, who was set to lead KKR in the 13th edition of IPL before the COVID-19 lockdown, is comfortable in his own world.
“That is how the sport has always been for me. Full of ups and downs. It has taught me a lot of things. It (being out of the team) is not something new to me so I am comfortable in the space that I am in.
“There is a T20 World Cup round the corner and I know if I do well, I stand a good chance of making the team. I know it gets tougher every time. The team is getting stronger all the time and it is great to watch. But it is my duty to get better as a player and the rest will take care of itself,” the Tamil Nadu veteran said.
The IPL 2020, which has been postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, would have been an ideal platform for Karthik to strengthen his claim for the T20 World Cup squad.
“With everything that has been happening, I am not able to think too much about the IPL. I have moved into a state where I have accepted that it is not going to happen for now. Before the lockdown, I was practising really hard for the IPL, just like I did it every other tournament.
“There is still a lot of hope (of playing for India again), it is always there. In fact, the entire world is living on hope right,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)
