Earlier this year, veteran wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik made his return to the Indian team after three years thanks to his IPL 2022 exploits for the RCB.
Since his return, Karthik has impressed one and all while playing the role of a designated finisher. As a result, he has been included in India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.
On Friday (September 23), Karthik once again stepped up to the plate in a pressure situation during the second T20I against Australia in Nagpur.
Chasing 91 to win in a match that was reduced to eight overs due to wet field, the Men in Blue needed 9 runs off the final over and Karthik smashed Daniel Sams’ first two balls for a six and four to seal the deal.
Speaking after the game, Karthik, who stayed unbeaten on 10 off 2 balls, said he does specific practice and not 'too much of it.'
"Over a period of time, I've been practising for this, I've been doing it for RCB now and I'm happy doing it here. So it's a consistent routine for a period of time.
"I do a lot of scenario practices and also Rahul (Dravid) bhai and Vikram (Rathour) bhai has been accommodating of how I want to practice, what are the kinds of shots I want to practice.
"I have been very specific with it. I don't practice too much but I like to keep it as specific as possible," said Karthik in the post-match press conference.
In the series opener at Mohali, Dinesh Karthik came to bat after Akshar Patel while he was sent ahead of the left-arm spinner in the second T20I.
"I think it's something that we are trying, there are times when there could be a couple of overs where an Akshar Patel could target a spinner and take them on.
"So that is the kind of logic at that stage and having a left hander and leg spinner bowling is a good matchup. So we try and use that option sometimes. So that's one of the reasons why we try and do it depending on how the game is unravelling at that point of time," said the 37-year-old.
Karthik was preferred over Rishabh Pant in the first T20I while both of them featured in the second game as it was a truncated one.
"Today we required four bowlers to finish off the 8 overs as each bowled two but we actually had five options. So when you have five options, that's the luxury of having a world class all rounder in Hardik Pandya," said Karthik.
"When Hardik Pandya is there in the 11, then 11 gets balanced very well, an extra batsmen or extra bowler can play, that's the luxury you have and that's what makes him so special."
The wicketkeeper batter had special praise reserved for his skipper Rohit Sharma, who slammed 46 not out off 20 balls in the run chase.
"It was terrific batting from Rohit Sharma. On that pitch, against new ball bowlers to play such shots is not easy. It shows why he is such a great player, not only in Indian cricket but also in world cricket.
"His ability to play fast bowling is second to none in his world and that's what makes him really special as a batsman," Karthik said.
(With PTI inputs)
