Ravi Shastri has given his weightage on Dinesh Karthik’s name ahead of Ishan Kishan for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The RCB middle-order batsman is in sensational batting form just a few months ahead of the mega-event and many good cricketing minds feel that he should play in the ICC tournament.
The veteran Indian cricketer is going through a good patch in the ongoing season. He has played the role of game finisher for Royal Challengers Bangalore by coming down the pecking order. Dinesh Karthik has created a big noise in Indian cricket with his glittery match finishing knocks. He has scored 210 runs at a strike rate of 200 in 8 IPL games.
Ravi Shastri Backs Dinesh Karthik’s Name for T20 World Cup
His name is in the spotlight for quite some time in IPL. Talking about the same, Ravi Shastri said that Dinesh Karthik has an absolute chance to play for India in the T20 World Cup. He feels that Men in Blue should go with at least three wicketkeepers and he will be one of the top three.
“Well, the way he is playing, he has an absolute chance. Why not? He is in form, with the amount of cricket that is being played these days, you never know when there could be an injury to anyone. The way he is playing now, India needs a finisher and he could make it to the side. Of course, Rishabh Pant would be your first wicketkeeper but, on the tour, you may need three. With COVID, you might need three keeps. He definitely has a big chance, he is banging on that door, he is just waiting to kick it open,” Shastri said on ESPNcricinfo’s ‘Run-Order’.
The former Indian coach mentioned that it is difficult for Karthik to make it to the playing 11. But, he can be one of the 16 players squad.
“Are we talking of 11 here or a squad of 16? Then let me say, he won’t make it to 11, but he will be in the 15. I am looking at Australia, the kind of conditions, the pitches that are there, and the shots he has — the cut and the pull,” he further stated.
Shastri asserted that if he has to pick a player for the mega-event then it will be totally based on the player’s form. He added that Dinesh Karthik has all the strokes in his game that make him a perfect player for the Australian conditions.
“I’ll go with current form and I’ll go with the conditions where we will be playing. The kind of shots that can be played, the experience coming into play, and the fitness of the player. Dinesh Karthik is as fit as anyone around.”
The former player said that Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya is the perfect player for those conditions. But, the team will require a 6th bowling option and this is where India needs to work.
“No question about that. You know what Rishabh Pant has done in those conditions. He is another player who loves those conditions and has the game that suits those conditions. Hardik Pandya another player who suits those conditions has done well there. But you need that sixth bowling option, you cannot go to Australia with five. If someone pulls up during a game, you had it.”
Read More:
‘IPL Money Poisoned My Relationship With Michael Clarke,’ Says Andrew Symonds
IPL 2022 final to be played at Narendra Modi Stadium, Kolkata gets to host two playoff matches
