“Will do everything I can to play in T20 World Cup”: Dinesh Karthik

Ahead of the IPL clash with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik expressed his ambition to represent India in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Karthik highlighted the significance of this goal at this stage of his career, with the tournament set to begin on June 1 in the West Indies and USA.

While discussing his aspirations during the pre-match press conference, Karthik said, “At this stage in my life, it would be the greatest feeling for me to represent India at the upcoming T-20 World Cup. There is nothing bigger in my life than representing India in this T-20 World Cup. I also feel there are three very stable, honest people at their helm to decide what should be the best Indian team for the World Cup. Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma, and Ajit Agarkar. And I am completely with them. I respect any decision that they make. But all I can say is I am 100 percent ready. And you know I’ll do everything I can to be on that flight to the World Cup.”

RCB is currently at the bottom of the IPL standings, having won only one of their seven games, but Karthik’s form has been a silver lining. He has scored 226 runs in seven matches at an average of 75.33 and a strike rate of 205.45, including two fifties with a highest score of 83.

Karthik’s previous performances as a finisher were crucial in securing his spot for the T20 World Cup 2022. That year, he amassed 330 runs in 16 matches for RCB with a high average of 55.00 and a strike rate of 183.33. Although his participation in the last T20 World Cup in Australia was not impactful, where he scored 14 runs across three innings, his role as an effective closer was well recognized.

As RCB and KKR prepare to face off, where KKR is currently second in the standings with four wins and two losses, Karthik’s focus remains on proving his readiness for international duties, driven by the desire to make significant contributions on the global stage.