Not Hardik Pandya, Ravi Shastri Wants This Player To Be India’s Finisher: Veteran keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik had a splendid outing in the recently-concluded 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League. He impressed everyone with his finishing skills as he rescued his side Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) out of many dangerous situations.
In the recently-concluded season, DK amassed 330 runs from 16 innings, batting at a strike rate of 183.33. All thanks to his terrific performances, he was included in the India squad for the upcoming 5-match T20I series against South Africa, kickstarting from June 9th.
Sharing his views on his comeback to Indian Team after a long gap, former India coach Ravi Shastri feels that the upcoming series is an opportunity for the veteran to fix his spot in team India ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup, which will take place in Australia, later this year.
Ravi Shastri on Dinesh Karthik’s role in Team India
Speaking on Star Sports, Shastri said that Karthik has to make the opportunity count in the upcoming T20I series against South Africa in order to remain in contention for the T20 World Cup. He said:
“This is his opportunity. If and when he gets an opportunity in these games, he has to do it with India colors on. We know he has got the experience, so this becomes extremely vital,”
Ever since MS Dhoni retired from international cricket in 2020, the Indian cricket team is struggling to find a replacement finisher in the team. Shastri backed Karthik for the role of a finisher in the Indian team heading into the T20 World Cup. He also explained how team India can accommodate Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik in T20 World Cup. He said:
“You have to see from the team’s point of view, what are they looking for? Do they want a keeper who will bat at the top of the order or do they want a keeper who will be the finisher? I will go for the latter. You need a keeper who will do MS Dhoni’s role, let’s put it that way. There is already Rishabh Pant who can bat in the top four or five in T20 cricket, but you want someone who can keep and finish a game because there aren’t too many finishers now with MS (Dhoni) having quit. So, I think that’s where his chances are very very good,”
