Dinesh Karthik reveals how he had to stay on the hunt for every opportunity in the international circuit

Dinesh Karthik returned to RCB for a second stint back in 2022 and that was a comeback to remember as not only did he take the IPL circuit head-on but also returned to the Indian cricket team with a host of impressive displays. Karthik was at his aggressive best with the bat, taking on the best of bowlers on his way to multiple eye-catching knocks. 

Right from the word go in IPL 2022, he was on song and the performances that followed showed the world and the Indian selectors why he was backed for the role of a finisher. 

However, when Karthik first came onto the Indian cricket scene, there was a big hunt for wicket-keepers as none of the stop-gap wicket-keepers could cement their spot in the national team. 

The narrative completely changed when Karthik came into the picture and he was doing a fine job for himself until MS Dhoni arrived. Post Dhoni’s introduction, it was nothing but an ascent to greatness for India from not just behind the stumps but various other perspectives.

Talking on the RCB Podcast Season 2, explaining the situation between him and Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik said, “I made my debut before him. We went together on an India A tour and from there I got picked to the Indian team. That was the first time I played a match with him. I did so well that they picked me for the Indian team."

 He continued, "From there, they went on another trip, there was an ODI tournament where he just blasted it there with boundaries and sixes. The world was still getting used to something like that, it was that sort of thing. People stood up and said there is nobody like him. They said he's a special player. Obviously, I came to the Indian team, but by then the Dhoni mania was so big that you had to pick him. He then replaced me in all formats and he did very well. At the end of the day, it is all about taking opportunities.”

Adding further, Karthik said, “I was chasing excellence. I was constantly on the path of becoming the best batter in the world. Dhoni was there, he wasn't there - that wasn't my lookout. He was doing very well for himself. I knew that he had settled into the team. And he made no mistake. They sent him up an order, he got a hundred in ODI. He then went to Test cricket and scored 85. He kept brilliantly. Most importantly, he became a brand overnight. People were after him. He was huge right from the outset. I remained under study but I was always on the lookout for opportunities.”

Dinesh Karthik’s comeback is very well documented in the Indian team and it was nothing short of a fairy tale. For a cricketer who has come all the way not just but twice, it speaks volumes about his hunger.