Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik Biography

Somewhere in India’s perennial wicketkeeping hunt in early 2000, Dinesh Karthik broke into the scenes. Extremely quick and agile behind the stumps, Karthik has a graceful batting style. He can play a conventional square-drive as well as a scoop over fine leg. He, in fact, knows how to come to terms with the modern dynamics of the game.

After spending two years in the domestic circuit, Karthik made his way to India’s ODI playing XI in 2004, replacing a struggling Parthiv Patel. Spotting his talent, he was shortly drafted into the Test squad as well.

However, like the previous wicketkeeper-batsmen, Karthik’s inconsistency became a great hindrance in his topsy-turvy career. With a power-hitter like MS Dhoni at India’s disposal, Karthik could actually never cement his place.

Not that Dhoni was an exceptional wicketkeeper but Karthik’s mistakes behind the wickets dearly costed India a few matches. Not that he could not score runs at a brisk rate but — unlike Dhoni— he often failed at crucial junctures.

However, his attractive stroke-making was something that made him stand out and impressed the then coach Greg Chappell. With Virender Sehwag struggling to score runs, Karthik played as a specialist opener in India’s tours of South Africa 2005-06 and England 2007, and churned out runs in swinging condition with opening partner Wasim Jaffer. But his inconsistency came back to haunt him, eventually being replaced by Sehwag in India’s tour Down Under 2008.

In short, Karthik often played a role that of a backup player.

Karthik amassed over 1,000 First-Class runs in 2008-09, studded with 5 spectacular hundreds. He guided Karnataka into the semi-final with his audacious captaincy, with also a match-winning 213 to his name.

In Yuvraj Singh’s absence, Karthik played as a No. 4 batsman in Champions Trophy 2013. Barring an unbeaten half-century against West Indies, Karthik failed to provide impetus. However, despite the poor run of form, he was played in the West Indies Tri-Nation Series 2013, in which he managed to score only 86 runs in 5 matches.

After Dhoni calling it a day from international cricket, there were talks of Karthik replacing him but his wicketkeeping skills were unmatched to Wriddhiman Saha’s.

IPL is something that best suited Karthik to boast of his crafty batsmanship. He was bought by Delhi Daredevils for INR 12.5 crore in IPL 7 auction and INR 10.5 crore in the next by Royal Challengers Bangalore. His cricketing skills have always been acknowledged in IPL by paying him hefty amounts. But with so many wicketkeeper-batsmen emerging in the domestic circuit, Karthik’s prominence seem to be fading away, as in IPL 9 he was bought for only INR 2.3 crore.

If truth be told, Karthik could never do justice to the immense talent he is gifted with.

Karthik got married to ace squash player Dipika Pallikal in 2015. Along with Dipika’s mother Susan Itticheria, and Karthik forms the only mother-in-law and son-in-law pair to have played international cricket.

Kaustubh S. Mayekar

Dinesh Karthik Batting & Fielding Averages

Career	M	In	R	NO	HS	Avg	BF	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s	Ct	St
Test	23	37	1000	1	129	27.77	2000	50.00	1	7	132	4	51	5
ODIs	79	67	1496	17	79	29.92	2055	72.79	0	9	154	12	53	7
T20s	19	17	269	9	48*	33.62	180	149.4	0	0	32	8	9	4
World Cup	0	--	--	--		--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--

Dinesh Karthik Bowling Averages

Career	M	B	R	W	Avg	EC	SR	5WI	10WM	BBI	BBM
Test	23	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
ODIs	79	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
T20s	19	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
World Cup	0	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--		--

Dinesh Karthik Career statistics

News ON Dinesh Karthik

Deodhar Trophy 2018-19: Dinesh Karthik to lead India A

Shreyas Iyer will lead India B while Ajinkya Rahane was announced skipper of India C.

Chief selector MSK Prasad hints all is not over for Dinesh Karthik

DK has only managed scores of 33, 31*, 1*, 44 and 37 in his last five innings.

Recovering Saha unfazed by competition

Wriddhiman Saha isn't worried about losing his Test spot to young Rishabh Pant or for that matter anyone else.

India vs West Indies: Will selectors turn to Rishabh Pant with World Cup looming?

India are still struggling to identify their middle order, a reserve wicketkeeper and third opener for next summer’s World Cup.

Ajit Agarkar bats for Rishabh Pant’s inclusion for West Indies ODIs

Part of Pant not being in the ODI set up thus far is the presence of MS Dhoni and second wicketkeeping option in Dinesh Karthik, who ...

“Wanted to test myself in England,” says injured Wriddhiman Saha

Saha mentioned how he pushed himself to the limits to be fit in time for the England tour, but didn’t get the green flag from the physios.

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