Dinesh Karthik is one of the few players of have played in all 16 seasons of the IPL, right from 2008 to 2023. From 2008 to 2023, Dinesh Karthik has featured for six different franchises: Delhi Daredevils (2008-2010), Kings XI Punjab (2011), Mumbai Indians (2012-2013), Delhi (2014), RCB (2015), Gujarat Lions (2016-2017), KKR (2018-2021), RCB (2022-23). He also captained KKR from 2018-2020.
Dinesh Karthik won his only IPL title with the Mumbai Indians in 2013.
However, it now seems like the ongoing IPL 2023 is going to be the last season for the veteran cricketer from Tamil Nadu.
Here are two reasons why IPL 2023 could be the last IPL for Dinesh Karthik:
Horribly out of form
The main reason for fans and experts speculating such big calls as to the downfall of anyone’s career is their dipping on-field performances. While Karthik was in supreme touch in IPL 2022 – scoring runs at a strike rate of 183 – and on the back of which he made his India T20I comeback, this season, the RCB batter has been horribly out of form: Karthik has scored only 83 runs in 8 innings at a poor average of 11 and an ordinary strike rate of 131, not good for a finisher and has a highest score of 28.
Unlike last year, in 8 matches, Karthik has not played a single match-winning knock. Now, there have been greater and more consistent batters than Karthik – such as Raina – who have gone unsold in the auction when they form had dipped.
Age
RCB WK will turn 38 years old by the end of the IPL 2023. He’s not getting any younger. Only MS Dhoni and Amit Mishra are older players in IPL 2023 than Karthik; and Dhoni has showcased his elite fitness, plus CSK has batting depth that allows him to bat mostly in the last couple of overs, while Mishra is being used as an Impact sub by LSG and doesn’t have to field.
