Dinesh Karthik, who last played a T20I in February 2019, was included in the India squad for five T20Is against South Africa on the back of a memorable IPL 2022 season where he scored 330 runs in 16 innings for RCB.
Dinesh Karthik bats during a T20 match against South Africa. (courtesy: PTI)
highlighted
- Dinesh Karthik becomes India’s oldest batsman to score 50 runs in T20Is
- Dinesh Karthik scored 330 runs in 16 matches during IPL 2022
- The T20I series between India and South Africa ended in a 2-2 draw
India head coach Rahul Dravid heaped praise on Dinesh Karthik, calling him a promoter of the team after his innings in Rajkot helped the team level up the five-match T20I series against South Africa.
The 37-year-old Karthik returned to the Indian squad for the T20Is against South Africa. It was his 27-ball 55 in the fourth match that helped India post a modest total after the top-order collapsed. Karthik also became the oldest Indian batsman to score a half-century in the shortest format.
Dravid said at the post-match press conference, “He was picked for a specific skill – something he was doing exceptionally well in the last 2-3 years. It’s good that his selection was justified. “
“It came together brilliantly in Rajkot, where we needed that big performance in the last 5 overs to put up an even total. Karthik and Hardik (Pandya) batted beautifully for us. Karthik and Pandya both died. K.K. is our promoters. He can take advantage of that. In the last 5-6 overs as well as anyone in the world.
“It’s good to see Karthik doing well. It opens up options for us to go ahead. I was telling people that they have to open doors and not just knock. An innings like this (in Rajkot) is certain. Roop means Kartik is banging hard.”
Karthik, who last played a T20I in February 2019, was included in the India squad for five T20Is on the back of a memorable IPL 2022 season where he scored 330 runs in 16 innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
The series between India and South Africa ended in a 2-2 draw as the fifth and deciding T20I was called off due to rain in Bengaluru.
