Former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator, Sanjay Manjrekar, has backed Dinesh Karthik for the finisher’s role in the Indian team for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.
Karthik was recently recalled to Team India for the recent South Africa T20I series following his impactful IPL 2022 season with the RCB. The 37-year-old continued his form and played some impressive knocks, including a maiden fifty, to help India level the T20I series against South Africa at home.
Karthik has already impressed one and all with his comeback show, and Manjrekar feels he should be in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2022, and he is demanding that with his amazing cameos.
Sanjay Manjrekar told NDTV: “I think there's a good chance that will happen because of him proving his worth. And that series against South Africa, especially in the fourth game, where he was the player of the match, striking 200 was a show of his ability. So yes, he is an extremely tempting option. There'll be a few matches before the T20I World Cup so I guess he'll have to keep reminding the selectors that he's still relevant.”
He continued, “It's just amazing that this guy at this stage of his career has carved a niche for himself. I tweeted also about him where he is one of those rare players in fact one of the first players in the world in T20 Cricket who actually is a specialist kind of cameo batter down the order. He is not somebody who will bat at number three or four, and generally bat at number 5, 6, or 7. He will get a few overs, 15-20 balls, to make a contribution. It makes such an impact. Such batters are another string to the bow.”
Manjrekar believes that Karthik’s presence would be really helpful to the success of the Indian team, as he doesn’t need to face too many balls to get set and knows how to score runs against opposition bowlers in the death overs.
He signed off by saying, “So, Dinesh Karthik actually commands a place in this team for his cameo batting. With Pant as keeper and Dinesh Karthik in the team only as a batter just tells you the kind of work that he's adding, which has been amazing!”
