Dinesh Karthik has been in and around Indian Cricket Team’s dressing room past one decade. Due to MS Dhoni’s huge presence behind the stumps, no other wicketkeeper-batsman in India could not break into the playing XI, but Karthik has been preferred as the second-choice wicketkeeper in limited overs cricket by the selectors.
But, now, when he nearing the end of his cricketing career, Karthik has established a name for himself and fans are hooting for him in stadiums and also on social media. Recently, Karthik played a brilliant match-winning knock against Bangladesh and won the game for India by hitting winning six on the last ball of the match.
On the back of these performances, he was made the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and now he has been named in ICC World XI for Windies T20I at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Karthik, along with Hardik Pandya, who is a very exciting young all-rounder, has been named in the ICC World XI.
Hardik Pandya is a very hard-hitting batsman who can change the complexion of a match in a matter of minutes with his big hits. He is also a very decent bowler who can bowl at any stage of the innings.
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The match has being organised to raise funds for the reconstruction of Ronald Webster Park in Anguilla, the Sir Viv Richards Stadium in Antigua, the Windsor Park Stadium in Dominica, the A.O. Shirley Recreation Ground in the British Virgin Islands and the Carib Lumber Ball Park in St. Maarten. These stadiums were damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria last year.
The likes of Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Thisara Perera and Rashid Khan. Carlos Brathwaite will lead the Windies side and star players like Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Samuel Badree and Andre Russell will also be seen in action.
Interestingly, the match has been given the status of official T20I and this means that former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi, will be making a comeback of sorts to international cricket.
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Earlier, England’s star cricketer Eoin Morgan was announced as the captain of the ICC Team which will be facing Windies.
“I am delighted to captain the ICC World XI at Lord’s in May against the West Indies,” Morgan had said.
“The cricket family always comes together to support worthwhile causes and this one-off T20I, featuring some of the best players in the world will be a great spectacle at the home of cricket. I am sure the sporting public will come out in force and help raise money and awareness towards restoring parts of the Caribbean hit by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September last year, which ripped through many communities in this beautiful part of the world,” Morgan added.
“People would remember Pandya’s valiant 43-ball 76 against Pakistan in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy last year while Karthik too has played Test cricket at Lord’s. He has been in terrific form and recently blasted 29 off eight deliveries and sealed victory over Bangladesh in the final of the Nidahas Trophy with a last-ball six.”
