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

Dinesh Karthik focused on improving finishing skills amidst stiff competition

In the wake of a stiff competition, developing a particular skill and refining it continuously is the mantra for India ...

Minute people see me as a burden playing for Tamil Nadu, I will step back: Dinesh Karthik

Karthik, who has been seen in the finisher's role in the national side in recent times, said it was an aspect he was working on.

This team is known for its character: Krunal Pandya

Krunal said that he was down and out after a poor showing in the first T20 and needed to set the record straight for a consistent ...

Virat Kohli steers India to victory in final T20I against Australia

Kohli's unbeaten 61 an prevented Australia earning bragging rights ahead of their four Test series starting next month.

Skill-wise, we were better than Australia: Virat Kohli

Kohli stitched a crucial 60-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Dinesh Karthik as the duo took India to the finish line with two ...

3rd T20I: Virat Kohli, Krunal Pandya power India to six-wicket win; level series 1-1

Kohli, who brought up his 18th T20I half century, clobbered four boundaries and two sixes during his 41-ball 61* as India chased down ...

More News on Dinesh Karthik

Features ON Dinesh Karthik

Pant, Karthik begin battle for India’s No. 1 wicketkeeper-batsman

In the narrow loss to Australia in the first T20I of the three-match series, Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik begin their battle to ...

India report card: Virat Kohli the best of a disappointing traveling Test team

After Virat Kohli's 593 runs, the next best was KL Rahul's 299, of which 149 came in one innings.

England vs India, 1st Test: Five questions for Virat Kohli’s No 1 ranked India at Edgbaston

Vijay and Rahul to open? Kuldeep as the second spinner? Karthik or Pant to keep? And which Kohli will show up?

IPL 2018: The CricketCountry XI

Looking at it in another way, how about this team playing the champions CSK? We wish...

Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2018, preview: Dinesh Karthik’s Knights stare at daunting opponents — injuries and uncertainties

Kolkata Knight Riders have lost Mitchell Starc to injury. Chris Lynn and Andre Russell are coming back after injuries, and Sunil ...

IPL 2018: Teams and their past, present captains

Ever wondered how many captains had each team had, and how have they fared? This article looks at the eight franchises and their luck ...

More Features on Dinesh Karthik

टीम इंडिया ने ऑस्ट्रेलिया को हरा एडिलेड टेस्ट में बनाए कई रिकॉर्ड

एडिलेड में जीत हासिल कर एशिया के 'महान' कप्तान बने विराट कोहली

ऑस्ट्रेलिया में सीरीज का पहला टेस्ट जीतकर कप्तान कोहली ने रचा इतिहास

15 साल बाद भारत ने ऑस्ट्रेलिया के खिलाफ एडिलेड में जीता टेस्ट

ऑस्ट्रेलिया के खिलाफ इशांत शर्मा ने पूरा किया विकेटों का 'अर्धशतक'