New Delhi: Indian cricket team's senior batter Dinesh Karthik has been named in the national squad announced for the five-match T20 International series against South Africa. The star player has done remarkably well with the bat for his team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. The 37-year-old senior cricketer, who stunned everyone with his 'jaw-dropping' finishing skills in IPL 2022, has been handsomely rewarded. Karthik has so far scored 287 runs in 14 IPL matches with a remarkable strike rate of 57.40.
Dinesh Karthik was bought for 5.50 crore by Royal Challengers Bangalore in this year's IPL auction. The team management entrusted the veteran with the role of a finisher and he fulfilled this responsibility by emerging as the batsman with the highest strike-rate in the tournament. On being selected in team India for Ind-SA T20 series, Karthik thanked RCB head coach Mike Hesson and batting coach Sanjay Bangar for buying him in IPL 2022 mega auction. The video of the same has been posted by RCB via its official Twitter handle.
"Very happy. Very very very satisfying. I must say this has been my most memorable comeback because a lot of people had given up on me and for me to do what I did, practice with the way I did with my coach Nayar. So many special things in the lead to the auction and how I practiced post that. I lot of credit also to Sanjay Bangar and Mike Hesson. The clarity that they gave me to execute the role that I wanted to, in many ways I am indebted to RCB for picking me and believing in me," said Karthik.
"A lot of credit must go to the selectors, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid because these days with so many young boys putting their names for selection, to see the skillset that is there and then to believe that this is the guy we need for the World Cup, it is a very very humbling feeling. I know the journey is still there to the World Cup but to be a part of the scheme of things and giving me an opportunity to showcase my skills and I am very proud of it," Karthik added.
Karthik switched to commentary after he last played for national team in the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup.
"I started believing but people around me gave me a feeling saying I should not dream too much. I took up the role of a commentator and that made it look like I am no more interested in trying to come back to the Indian team but I have always said that for me, playing for the Indian team is the priority, because I had time I did it. I am very excited overall," he signed off.