Karthik plots comeback, one more time

Karthik believes that the upcoming Deodhar Trophy will be crucial for him to claim a spot in the World Cup 2019 squad    

Dinesh Karthik always had a penchant for styling his own cricketing gear, especially his wicket-keeping gloves. Monday afternoon at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Karthik showed one more glimpse, as he carefully pulled out the plastic and plucked away the tag to reveal his new tricolor-styled keeping gloves. 

 

It wasn't subtle, rather, it sent across a very loud and clear message to everyone who will follow him over the next four days at the Deodhar Trophy in Delhi. Karthik remains one of the few serious candidates from that bunch of 45 who will go through the grind in a white-ball tournament that has lost its originality but still holds hope for a World Cup 2019 berth.     

 

Karthik remains a team man, and he believes there are many others in the big picture as well. "Not just for me, but for all players, it's a good tournament, some top 45--50 players  are here and it's important for all of us. As a player we are all aware of these, but we need to look one game at a time. These things add to the pressure (of performing and making a comeback) that is already existing. I'd look to give my best here and see what happens," he says winding out a practice session for India A as they prepare to take on India B, led by Shreyas Iyer on Tuesday.   

 

It has been a roller-coaster last four months for Karthik. He saw himself promoted from a T20 finisher to a first-choice Test match wicketkeeper, a rare comeback into whites after eight years and then promptly dumped for Rishabh Pant at the fag end of England tour to a No.4 in ODIs and then out of the squad from there as well.

 

But the 33-year-old Karthik has been there before in this sort of situation and has managed a roaring comeback each time. "Nobody plans a career like that. We all look to do well in domestic and represent India,  and I am no different. If I have to go back and prove myself again, that's the journey. At this stage, and the way it has panned out for me in last 3-4 months, I really don't think I can move anywhere if I keep brooding over it. I need to improve on areas, keep moving forward, and I will try and do the best I can," he says as a matter of fact. 

 

Getting dropped despite an average of 48.66 from the Asia Cup campaign may be a wee bit harsh, especially when he alone was made to atone for not finishing off games there but Karthik has the solace of being kept in the loop by the selectors and the team management of what exactly he needs to do to catch the flight to London, or even an early flight to Australia next month.  

 

Will he need the keeping gloves then? Will he continue to remain the back-up keeper for Tests in Australia while trying to be the comeback batsman in ODIs who will dive around in the outfield? Karthik has no quams performing that dual role. "I have been doing that for sometime now," he says with a smile, sipping from his cup of black coffee. "I am happy doing that. I have tried to become a better batsman always. Keeping comes naturally for me, I practice a bit of keeping before matches but I realise that when I've been picked, it is more because of my batting. I know that I have to keep scoring runs to be picked," he says.

  

The case maybe true for Karthik, but not exactly for many of his team mates like Karun Nair or for people in the opposite camp. Take Shreyas Iyer and Mayank Aggarwal for example. Or even wickets for that matter. Like his statemate, good friend,  long time Team India batchmate and now India A team mate R Ashwin. The off-spinner did try out a few of his white-ball tricks --- the leg-spinner as well as the carrom --- to a single-stump at the main square before turning his arm over at the nets. A big chunk of wickets may still not be enough for Ashwin for as comeback. Ashwin knows it. Karthik knows it well as well.

 

"I will just give Ashwin the freedom what he wants. He's a champion bowler and it's a short tournament. Its important to give opportunities to everyone, help each player, give them the confidence. Every player comes with a certain sense of expectations. I have my own," says Karthik.

 

Deodhar will be keenly followed for Dinesh. And that's coming straight from the selectors.