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A day after Royal Challengers Bangalore lost by 28 runs against Lucknow Supergiants earlier this month, Dinesh Karthik Had previously committed to three commercial engagements – two shoots (including an hour’s drive from his hotel) and a bat-signing session. As professional as they come, the 38-year-old fulfilled his duties with characteristic nonchalance, his face hardly reflecting the turmoil on his mind.
Against LSG at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Karthik was dismissed for four off eight balls; It was a rank effort as they had prepared precisely for the scenario they faced on the eve of the IPL. When Karthik joined, RCB had scored 79 runs off 34 balls Mahipal Lomror On middle, but the veteran was unable to bat on the ball, eventually caught behind the stumps by Naveen-ul-Haq. To say he’s not happy with himself is a gross understatement.
Within minutes of returning to the hotel after the defeat, Karthik began exploring routes for the next day’s practice – the team’s designated rest day – and found a venue an hour and a half away. After fulfilling his contractual obligations, he practiced for an hour and a half with the late setting sun as his ally, only to leave the ‘Nets after working off his nerves.
India’s oldest active international player – He made his debut for India in August 2004, ahead of six other players who played all 17 seasons. IPL – It’s not much time to call it quits as a professional cricketer, but the fire still burns, the hunger for the franchise to give unwavering faith in itself, the all-consuming self-esteem as it were. Apart from the IPLs, it is not easy to be labeled a ‘part-time’ cricketer as he often wears the hat of an expert and sits on commentary panels; To his credit, Karthik has almost embraced that tag, determined to prove himself more than anyone else, even as a part-timer, as good as many full-timers.
Inspired by the possibility of an international comeback two years ago, Karthik roared back in 2022 after returning to RCB, hitting 330 runs as a finisher at a strike rate of 183.33. A call-up to the T20 World Cup squad might be the culmination of the journey for many, but Karthik is not done yet. He returned to RCB, perhaps a little short on motivation, having scored just 140 runs (SR 134.62) last season, but keen as mustard to leave a lasting impression in his 17th and final IPL campaign, Karthik is in overdrive this year.
His 226 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 205.45 did not come by chance. Karthik was physically fit even while commentating in the India-England Test series. He stepped away from commentary duty for the final Test in Dharamsala, played in the DY Patil T20 tournament in Mumbai, worked on his batting in various parts of the country and spent time with Abhishek Nair, an integral part of Kolkata Knight Riders. Settling, conveying matters of mind.
Karthik wasn’t on the verge of another international comeback three weeks ago, but now, it won’t be in the realms of wonder if his hat is even in the ring when the selectors meet in a fortnight to pick the 15. T20 World Cup. For many, this may seem like a step backwards – after all, Rishabh Pant is the only middle-order/finisher bet but there are plenty of wicket-keeping options – but if form, fitness and pedigree are the criteria, Karthik is probably the one. The likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are more in the mix.
As sixes were blasted for fun at Chinnaswamy on Monday night and all sorts of records tumbled, Karthik shone brightly. Travis Head hit the fourth fastest IPL century, Heinrich Klaasen was brilliant, Faf du Plessis did Faf things, but it was the chants of ‘DK DK DK DK’ that rented the air in Bengaluru. A desperate chase of 288 was artificially given new life by a small pocket of dynamite who blasted 83 off 35 balls. There was a time when the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers were almost afraid to deliver the ball as it traveled into the stands and was clapped on the roofs around the ground. Amidst all the carnage there was also an incredible reverse sweep-pull, the ultimate confirmation that it’s never too late to master new tricks. effortlessly.
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