Image Credit- BCCI
Dinesh Karthik, an
Indian wicketkeeper-batter, will play for Royal Challengers Bangalore for the
next two months in what will be his final IPL season. Karthik, who turns 39 in
June, will shortly decide whether or not to pursue an international career.
Along with MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Wriddhiman
Saha, and Manish Pandey, Karthik is one of only seven players to have appeared
in every IPL season since the BCCI began the competition in 2008. Karthik began
his IPL career at Delhi Daredevils, which is now known as the Delhi Capitals.
Even more astonishing, Karthik has only missed two games in 16 seasons.
Karthik had a dismal
2023 Indian Premier League season at bat, amassing just 140 runs at an average
of just over 11. It was a far cry from the incredible season he had in 2022,
the year Royal Challengers paid INR 5.5 crore (about US$ 662,000) to get Karthik
in the auction. Karthik, who was primarily used as a finisher and had worked
hard to develop his power hitting throughout the preseason, amassed 330 runs at
an average of 55 and an astounding strike-rate of 183.33 in 16 games. Karthik
was a major factor in the Royal Challengers’ success that season, as they
advanced to the play-offs before losing in the second qualifying round.
Karthik is in his
second season as a player with the Royal Challengers, having previously
participated in one in 2015. Karthik has played for six different IPL teams in
total: Daredevils (2008–14), Mumbai Indians (2012–13), Gujarat Lions (2016–17),
Knight Riders (2018–21), and Royal Challengers (2015, 2022–present). Karthik
has amassed 4516 runs at an average of almost 26 in 240 matches overall,
hitting at over 132 with 20 half centuries. Karthik is ranked second on the
list behind Dhoni in terms of both stumpings (36) and total dismissals (133) as
a keeper.
Karthik has already
adapted to what is thought of as a second job even as he prepares to bid
cricket adieu as a player. Karthik kept playing in 2021, but he also gained
experience in broadcasting by commentating on the first World Test Championship
match between India and New Zealand and the Hundred. As a seasoned broadcaster,
Karthik is now providing commentary for the India-England Test series.
On March 23, at his home field in Chepauk, Royal Challengers will play the
opening match of the tournament against the reigning champion Chennai Super
Kings.