Dinesh Karthik matched the deeds of yesteryears’ legends Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni in the fourth India-South Africa T20I on Friday, and fans demanded for the 37-year-old’s inclusion in India’s T20 World Cup 2022 squad.
Dinesh Karthik has redefined the role of a T20 finisher over the last few years, none as significantly as during the IPL 2022 for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and for India in the ongoing home T20I series against South Africa.
After having last played for India in the 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in Manchester, Karthik made a strong comeback to the team following a stellar run in RCB’s run to the playoffs at the IPL 2022. The right-hander struck 330 runs at 56, at a brilliant strike-rate of 183.33 in the 10-team competition.
He registered scores of 1*, 30*(21) and 6 in the first three T20Is against South Africa, before putting on a game-changing show in the fourth game in Rajkot on Friday. Having walked in at the fall of Rishabh Pant’s wicket in the 13th over, with India 81/4, Karthik added 65 off 33 with Hardik Pandya to get the hosts back into the contest.
He struck nine fours and two sixes during his 27-ball 55, which happened to be his first T20I fifty in what was his 36th outing for India. Karthik became one of the only two cricketers to score a half-century for India before the age of 20 and after 37, the other being the great Sachin Tendulkar.
Karthik, who turned 37 earlier this month, also became the oldest to score a T20I fifty for the country, after former captain MS Dhoni, who had done so aged 36 years 229 days against the same opponents four years ago.
India went on to clinch an emphatic 82-run win to level the series 2-2, with Avesh Khan returning 4/18. Fans couldn’t stop marvelling over Karthik’s exploits and demanded his exclusion in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup, which will be played in Australia in October-November.
Here are the best reactions to Karthik’s brilliant show:
Oldest players to score fifties for India in men’s T20Is :-
37y 16d – Dinesh Karthik v SA🇿🇦, today
36y 229d – MS Dhoni v SA🇿🇦, 2018
35y 209d – MS Dhoni v ENG🏴, 2017#INDvSA— Rhitankar Bandyopadhyay (@rhitankar8616) June 17, 2022
There are Only 2 Indians to Score Half Century for India in both Phases
(Before 20 age & After 37 age)Sachin Tendulkar
Dinesh Karthik*#INDvSA— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) June 17, 2022
My opinion – first choice wicket keeper batsmen for India in all white ball formats until 2023 World Cup should only be @DineshKarthik I don’t see anyone closer to his class , consistency or match winning abilities right now.
— Prasanna (@prasannalara) June 17, 2022
Highest score at No.6 or lower by Indians in T20Is:
55 – Dinesh Karthik v SA, today
52* – MS Dhoni v SA, 2018
50* – Manish Pandey v NZ, 2020
49 – MS Dhoni v NZ, 2017
48* – MS Dhoni v AUS, 2012#INDvSA— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) June 17, 2022
Dinesh Karthik blends pyrotechnics with batting smarts 👏
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) June 17, 2022
Two things I’ll regret for a long time:
1) Dinesh Karthik not getting enough chances to play for India
2) Suryakumar Yadav debuting for India almost 2-3 years later than he should have
Geniuses!
— Jeet Vachharajani🏏🎯 (@Jeetv27) June 17, 2022
Fifteen and a half years after his T20I debut, Dinesh Karthik scores his maiden half century in the shortest format of the game.
Is this some sort of a record?#INDvSA— Nihit (@nihitsachdeva28) June 17, 2022
People used to laugh when Dinesh Karthik made statements about wanting to make a comeback in the national team Same people are praising him now 😎 pic.twitter.com/TEoT53P3w0
— Utsav (@utsav__45) June 17, 2022
Dinesh Karthik is an absolute weapon at the crease 🔥 #INDvSA
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) June 17, 2022
Dinesh Karthik, don’t spoil us. We aren’t used to of such recoveries at such stage. #INDvSA
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) June 17, 2022
Never got a long run
Coming after years into ICT
Team collapsed walks in 13 overCould have statpadded to secure place but Nah plays with 203 strike rate scores 50s drags team to respectable total king Dinesh Karthik.
— Sai (@akakrcb6) June 17, 2022
Dinesh Karthik was part of India’s first ever T20i game. He was Man Of The Match in that game which was against South Africa, after that been in and out of the team. Today after 16 years he registers his maiden T20i fifty against the same opponent.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 17, 2022
The series decider will be played in Bangalore on Sunday, June 19.
