Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik said fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is like a Kohinoor diamond for the national team, adding that being entrusted with the responsibility of captaincy will increase the risk of him being injured.
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik believes there is nothing to worry about Virat Kohli’s form in the 2-0 ODI series loss to Sri Lanka, saying life wasn’t easy for rest of the visitors’ batters on pitches aiding spinners to a huge extent.
The 39-year-old former India international boasts intimate knowledge of franchise T20 cricket, having been part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) since its inception in 2008. He has represented six teams during his 16-year IPL career.
The 39-year-old Karthik retired from all forms of representative cricket at the end of the 2024 IPL season. The wicketkeeper-batter was a part of the RCB franchise since the IPL 2022 mega auction and stayed with them for three seasons. He also had a stint with them in 2015 for one season.
Star batter Virat Kohli led the franchise to sing praises of the 38-year-old stumper, who the Delhi batter credited for helping him out in tough times during the 2022 IPL season. In a video shared by the franchise, Kohli gushed about Karthik, terming him a ‘wise man’.
Now, 16 years later, in Rajkot, Karthik notched up his first half-century in the format, blistering 27-ball 55, hitting nine fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 203.7. He was also involved in a crucial 65-run stand-off with 33 balls with Hardik Pandya to set up India's 82-run thrashing of South Africa and take the series to a cracking finale on Sunday.
Despite losing the toss for the fourth time in a row, India ended up on the winning side, meaning that the hosts levelled the five-match series 2-2, with Sunday's match at Bengaluru now a winner takes it all affair.
The 27-year-old Azam already has the top ICC billing in both white-ball formats, but is ranked fifth in the longest format behind the likes of Australia's Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith, New Zealand's Kane Williamson and prolific England run-getter Joe Root.
The former Indian captain Gavaskar backed Dinesh Karthik, saying that the wicketkeeper-batsman is capable of changing the complexion of the game in the IPL 2022 with his batting exploits.
Australian pace bowler Josh Hazlewood, who had figures of 3/28, said he felt great after achieving the narrow win.
