Dinesh Karthik aims at MS Dhoni-like finishing role in 2020 ICC T20 World Cup

Karthik aims at MS Dhoni-like finishing role: The senior wicket-keeper batsman is eyeing a comeback into the T20I side.

Veteran wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik has once again answered his ouster with praiseworthy performance in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. Karthik was dropped from both the ODI and T20I squad as an aftermath of India losing the semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup earlier this year.

Leading Tamil Nadu in the domestic ODI competition, the 34-year old cricketer has scored 349 runs in nine matches at an average of 87.25 and a strike rate of 135.79 including four half-centuries.

Karthik aims at MS Dhoni-like finishing role

Coming on the back of such numbers, Karthik opened up on his ambition of playing for India in the 2020 ICC T20 World Cup in Australia in an interview with ESPNcricinfo. Having reached the knockouts now, Karthik would be looking to enhance his numbers in the quarter-final against Punjab tomorrow.

“It’s [T20 World Cup] a year away but if I feel I can keep performing and have a good [domestic] tournament, I’m sure I will go out there and play. Because, I feel it’s a key part that the Indian team is looking out as well – closing out matches and have someone who can understand those situations and do the best at that point of time.

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“And I feel I’ve done that in the short time I’d played T20s [for India]. But, post the World Cup, I didn’t play; they clubbed it [poor run at the World Cup] with the T20 part of it and removed me from the team as well. But I feel that I’m well-suited to play that role Dhoni has played for so many years now.

“I feel I can do something like that and I’ve been doing that for KKR and Tamil Nadu. So, if a slot opens up there, that’s something I’ll be really looking forward to. The T20 World Cup is definitely something I’d want to play,” Karthik was quoted as saying.