Former Indian cricketer Ashish Nehra believes that Dinesh Karthik has already booked his spot in the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.
Karthik is having the greatest of times. After having a staggering IPL 2022 campaign, where he scored 330 runs at an incredible strike rate of 183.33 for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), he was recalled into the Indian side for the ongoing T20I series against South Africa.
Since then the keeper-batter is writing a story of his own. In what has been his comeback series, the right-hander has made his presence felt. In the first T20I against South Africa, he played only 2 balls and blasted an unbeaten 30 runs in 21 balls in the second game to help his side post a fighting total on the board.
Read Also: Shreyas Iyer needs to work on his skills against fast bowlers- Irfan Pathan
After scoring just 6 runs in the third game, he was the main architect behind India’s big win in the fourth T20I. Karthik was awarded Player of the Match for his heroics. He scored his maiden fifty in the T20Is and helped his team register the win. The Tamil Nadu batter came to bat when India found themselves tottering at 81/4.
Karthik (55) along with Hardik Pandya (46) stitched 61 runs partnership and helped their side post a total of 169 runs on the board after they were in a spot of bother.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Ashish Nehra said that Dinesh Karthik has already booked his place in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup. He highlighted how the keeper-batter batted with a strike rate of 200 and how there are expectations from a senior player like him.
"He (Karthik) has already booked his place in the T20 World Cup squad. He scored 55 at a strike rate of 200. He batted at No.6, which I liked, and that fact that he scored a half-century... his innings was longer and he got to bat earlier in the game... so these are the expectation you have from your most experienced player whom you have recalled to the team,” Ashish Nehra said.
Read Also: "India will have upper hand in Bangalore," Wasim Jaffer backs hosts to win 5th T20I
Nehra said that Karthik’s form would’ve made selectors and team management happy. He highlighted that with the likes of Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja being there, the presence of Karthik will only strengthen the team as he can help chase down targets even more than 200.
“Yes he does score runs in the last 3-4 overs but experience means that he knows a lot many other things as well. Selectors, and team management should all be happy. The knock surely will give him confidence as well and going forward, in this entire talk about impact at that batting position... you have Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja and then the experience of Karthik. He is the kind of player who can help you chase down even targets of 200 in Australia,” he said.
Karthik will be next seen in action in the fifth T20I against South Africa in Bengaluru on Sunday (19th June).
