Dinesh Karthik Archives

Dinesh Karthik announces retirement from professional cricket

India’s veteran wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik on Saturday announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

Karthik announced his retirement on his social media handles, bringing the curtains down on his prolonged cricketing career that began in the early 2000s.

“Having given it plenty of thought for sometime now, I have decided to move on from playing representative cricket,” Karthik said in a statement.

“I officially announce my retirement and put my playing days behind me as I square up for the new challenges that lie ahead.”

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Dinesh Karthik also extended gratitude to his supporters during his career.

“I’d like to thank all my coaches, captains, selectors, teammates and members of the support staff who have made this long journey pleasant and enjoyable. Among the millions that play the sport in our country, I consider myself among the lucky few to have had the chance to represent the nation, and luckier still to have earned the goodwill of so many fans and friends.

“My parents have been pillars of strength and support over all these years, and I wouldn’t be what I am without their blessings. I also owe plenty to Dipika (Pallikal), herself a professional sportsperson who often put her career on hold to walk my journey with me.

“Of course, to all the fans and followers of our great game, a massive thank you! Cricket and cricketers wouldn’t be the same without your support and good wishes.”

Dinesh Karthik represented India in 180 matches across formats and scored 3463 runs with the help of one century and 17 fifties.

He was part of the Indian side that won the inaugural ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007 while his last international appearance came in the previous edition of the mega event.

Karthik had already made a name for himself in the commentary and was subsequently named in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 commentary panel.

READ: PCB releases anthem ahead of T20 World Cup 2024

‘One of the best white-ball bowlers,’ Dinesh Karthik praises Haris Rauf

India’s wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik spoke highly of Pakistan speedster Haris Rauf and termed him one of the best white-ball bowlers in the world currently.

The cricketer-turned-commentator, in an interview with Sky Sports, praised Rauf and called his journey from playing tennis ball cricket to doing well in the international beautiful.

“Haris Rauf is one of the best white-ball bowlers in the world, especially in end overs — his story is beautiful with playing tennis ball cricket a few years back and getting picked by [Lahore] Qalandars, then doing so well in International cricket,” said Dinesh Karthik.

Earlier, recently retired England pace bowler Stuart Broad showered praise on Pakistan’s premier fast bowler Shaheen Afridi’s bowling action and termed him one of his favourite bowlers.

Talking to Sky Sports, Broad said, “Shaheen Shah Afridi is one of my favourite bowlers to watch in the world. He’s got such a presence about him when he runs in, and I love to see bowlers run in with energy and vibrancy to their run up.”

He further praised Shaheen for his impressive bowling skills, “He’s got such a natural skill — the way that ball swings back into the right-handers is such a pleasure to watch,”

Shaheen Shah Afridi, who represented Stuart Broad’s home county side, Notts Outlaws in this year’s T20 Blast, made his presence felt with his all-round abilities.

The left-arm pacer picked up 21 wickets in 13 matches during his T20 Blast stint. He also made notable contributions with the bat for the Outlaws, whose journey ended after a five-wicket defeat against eventual champions Somerset in the quarter-final.

“And he represented the Notts Outlaws this summer, which is close to my heart. He’s one of the bowlers I admire hugely, and I want to see him do well,” Broad added.

READ: Pakistan thump Sandviken to reach Norway Cup semi-final

Karthik, Avesh star as India blunt South Africa to draw level

RAJKOT: India wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik smashed a brilliant half-century before the young pacer Avesh Khan wreaked havoc over the South African batting line-up to bolster the home side to a comprehensive 82-run victory in the fourth T20I.

India have made a remarkable turnaround after falling behind 2-0 in the first two games to force the series to tie at 2-2 going into the final game on Sunday.

Batting first, the home side posted a commendable total of 169/6 in the allotted 20 overs, thanks to the blistering half-century from Karthik.

The home side were in all sorts of trouble when Karthik came out to bat at 81/4 in the 13th over. The wicket-keeper batter then showed character and put on a match-defining partnership with the all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

The pair added 65 runs for the fifth wicket and excelled at the pace to power the side to a commendable total. Pandya, who was a touch slow in the proceedings, fell short to Lungi Ngidi in the 19th over. He scored 46 off 31 balls, laced with three boundaries and as many sixes.

Karthik, on the other hand, fell in the final over after making sure to pull his side out of danger as India finished on 169/6 in 20 overs. The wicket-keeper batter top-scored for the side with 55 off a mere 27 deliveries with the help of nine boundaries and two sixes.

In the run chase, Indian bowlers displayed sheer dominance over the Proteas batting line-up and bowled out the touring side for a skimpy 87 in the 17th over.

Rassie van der Dussen resisted a bit with his gritty 20, but he too, could not hold on for long against the strong Indian bowling attack. The rest of the batters also looked helpless as eight of them could not enter into the double figures.

For India, Avesh was the pick of the bowlers as he bagged his career-best 4-18, while Yuzvendra Chahal bagged two. Harshal Patel and Axar Patel, on the other hand, made one scalp each.

READ: ‘I told players we’d return wearing white coats’ Sarfaraz recalls CT 17 glory

Babar Azam reacts to Dinesh Karthik’s comment in his praise

LAHORE: Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam reacted to the praiseful comment made by the Indian wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik regarding him.

Karthik, while featuring in the latest episode of the ICC Review last month, hosted by Sanjana Ganesan, made a major prediction regarding the Pakistan captain; claiming the latter has all the potential and capabilities to become the top-ranked batter across all formats.

“One-hundred per cent (he is capable of achieving that). He is a high-quality player who is at the peak of his batting prowess and he has got some Test matches coming up,” Karthik stated.

“He has been phenomenal in all three formats of the game and he has done well in different batting positions too. I wish him all the best and think he has the potential. He has got all the following of Pakistan helping him in abundance to go on and do special things for his country,” Karthik maintained.

Babar, on the other hand, reacted to the praising comments of Karthik regarding his future, in response to the question of a reporter: “Cricketers worldwide are in awe of your batting, and Dinesh Karthik has even said that you can become No. 1. Do you think you can get there, and if yes, what are you doing to achieve it?”

In response, Babar stated that as a player it is his dream to achieve this astounding feat and highlighted the factors that go into becoming No. 1.

“Definitely, as a player, it’s a dream to become the No. 1 in all formats and for that, you have to focus and put in hard work. It’s not like if you are the top player in 1 or 2 formats, you go easy,” he stated.

“If you are to become No.1 in all three, you have to keep yourself fit and on track. There is back-to-back cricket and the gap is less. For that, you need to be extra fit. It’s something I am preparing for. It’s going well in white-ball and hopefully, I will be able to do well in Tests too,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention here that Babar is currently the top-ranked batter in both ODIs and T20Is. In Tests, however, the Pakistan captain is ranked fifth behind Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Joe Root.

READ: Ruud battles past Rune to reach his first French Open semi-final

‘Babar Azam can become the No.1 batter in all formats’ Dinesh Karthik

DUBAI: Indian wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik claimed that the top Pakistani batter Babar Azam has all the potential to become the No.1 batter in all formats of the game.

Karthik, while featuring in the latest episode of the ICC Review, hosted by Sanjana Ganesan, made a major prediction regarding the Pakistan captain; claiming the latter has all the potential and capabilities to achieve this astounding feat.

“One-hundred per cent (he is capable of achieving that). He is a high-quality player who is at the peak of his batting prowess and he has got some Test matches coming up,” Karthik stated.

"He is a high-quality player who is at the peak of his batting prowess.”

Dinesh Karthik has made a big prediction about Pakistan captain Babar Azam on the latest episode of the ICC Review 👀

Details 👇

— ICC (@ICC) May 27, 2022

The veteran Indian wicket-keeper also expressed his firm belief in the capabilities of Babar, who he thinks can transform the ‘Fab Four’ into ‘Fab Five’, while also terming the latter a ‘very special player.’

“It is a very strong ‘Fab Four’ that we are talking about and they have obviously been there for much longer, but there is no doubt that Babar has all the credentials and he is going to make it a ‘Fab Five’,” Karthik noted.

“There is no doubt he is there or thereabouts … he is a very special player,” he added.

Karthik further claimed of noticed that Babar has made subtle changes in his batting technique in recent years which helped him become a better player while also heaped praises on his balance and striking point.

“The two things that struck me when I watched him bat is his balance and his striking point when he plays a ball,” Karthik explained.

“Whether it is on the front foot or the back foot, his ability to strike the ball more often than not under his eyes, has been phenomenal. He strikes the ball at the point where it is optimum power for where the ball is pitched and that makes him a very special player,” he concluded.

READ: Pakistan T20 Blind Cricket Trophy Grade-2 kicks off tomorrow