Off The Field

‘For Three Years, I’ve Been Looking From Outside’: Dinesh Karthik ‘Grateful’ For Being Part of T20I Team

Written by Abhishek Patil

Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik said that the urge and fire in the belly kept him going over the last decade. After a sensational 2022 Indian Premier League, Karthik returned to the Indian colours after almost three years. Karthik was the standout performer for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2022 and played a crucial role in their journey to the playoffs. The veteran wicketkeeper slammed 330 runs at a strike rate of 183.33 which is the reason why many backed him to play the finisher’s role for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

“I am very happy, very proud. It’s an incredible atmosphere and team to be part of. For about three years, I’ve been looking from outside. I’ve been looking in how special feeling it is to be a part of this team. I am enjoying and very grateful for every second I am here,” Karthik said in a video uploaded by BCCI.

The wicketkeeper batter said the urge and fire in the belly to wear the Team India jersey has kept him going in the last decade.

“I think, I’ve been dropped so many times and I always wanted to make a comeback into the Indian team. I think that has been my biggest drive, whenever, whether I’ve played domestic, whether I’ve played IPL. The urge, the fire in the belly in terms of wanting to come back here, wear the national colours and represent the India team is something that I dream of everyday, and that is what has kept me going consistently in the last decade or so,” Karthik said.

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Abhishek Patil