Dinesh Karthik has forced his way into the Indian team with some extraordinary performances in the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) in the lower order. The 37-year-old has reinvented himself a number of times throughout his long international career in which he has been dropped from the Indian team several times and returned.
Dinesh Karthik used to play as a top-order batter early in his career, even scoring his only Test century as an opener against Bangladesh in 2007. In his latest incarnation, however, Dinesh Karthik terrorized the opposition bowling attacks in the IPL 2022 with big-hitting as a lower-order finisher. He ended up scoring 330 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of a whopping 183.33.
Dinesh Karthik Is Better Suited For The Lower Order: Rashid Latif
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif said that while the Indian team that has been picked for their two-match T20I series against Ireland includes Sanju Samson, what Dinesh Karthik does is unique. Dinesh Karthik is better suited for the lower order feels Rashid Latif.
Indian selectors announced a 17-member squad for the 2-match T20 international series against Ireland. Hardik Pandya has been announced as the captain of the side while Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been named as his deputy.
Suryakumar Yadav has returned to the squad after being sidelined due to an injury against South Africa. Sanju Samson also returns to the squad after being ignored for the ongoing series against South Africa. Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer have been left out of the squad as they are going to be part of the Test squad in England and since both are expected to play in the practice game which is scheduled to be on the same dates as the T20Is against Ireland.
“Wicketkeepers are performing pretty well as batters in world cricket. Just in this team, Sanju Samson is a great top-order batter. But for the lower order, Dinesh Karthik is better suited,” said Rashid Latif in a chat on the Youtube channel caught behind.
“His numbers are such that he will make the playing XI. The way he batted for Bengaluru in the IPL, he batted well in the lower order with a high strike rate. There are very few wicketkeepers in T20 cricket who you would see are performing well batting in the lower order. Dinesh Karthik is the guy I will pick in the playing XI for the way he batted in the IPL,” said Rashid Latif.
Dinesh Karthik is currently playing for India in their ongoing five-match T20I series against South Africa. India is trailing 2-1, with the fourth T20I set to be played on Friday (17th June).
Dinesh Karthik Had Set IPL 2022 On Fire
Dinesh Karthik, the man who was responsible for India’s incredible win against Bangladesh in the Nidahas Trophy final, donned the Royal Challengers Bangalore-RCB jersey for the second time. An incredibly fine wicket-keeper and a decent striker of the ball, Dinesh Karthik is a veteran of more than 200 IPL games (229 to date).
Royal Challengers Bangalore wrested him from the jaws of Chennai Super Kings after an intense bidding war for Rs 5.50 crore. He played the role of finisher extremely well and had set IPL 2022 on fire. He was RCB’s 4th highest scorer in IPL 2022 with 330 runs in 16 games averaging an impressive 55 and had a stunning phenomenal strike rate of 183.33.
Dinesh Karthik made his India debut in 2004 and went on to play India’s first-ever T20I match. If all goes well, he will play the ICC T20I World Cup 2022 at the ripe age of 36 plus. Dinesh Karthik has scored 37 runs averaging 37 in 3 games in the ongoing 5 matches T20I series against South Africa.