India have backed Dinesh Karthik’s finishing ability by picking him in the T20 World Cup squad. The 37-year-old, who was not in the reckoning when India played the World Cup in the UAE last year, made a stunning return to the senior national side for the first time in close to 3 years after a dream run in IPL 2022 for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Karthik scored 330 runs at a strike rate of 183.33. Ever since returning to the T20I side, Karthik has scored 193 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of over 130. He has earned a spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad.
India preferred Karthik over Rishabh Pant at the start of the Asia Cup but an injury to all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja meant Karthik had to sit out as the team wanted the left-hand option of Rishabh Pant in the top 6. Pant struggled to get going in the Super 4 stages.
“Definitely, Dinesh Karthik should play the finisher’s role. There is an important reason for it. I couldn’t think of it right after the World Cup squad but after analysing carefully. All the batters who are playing in the top 7 positions have batted at No. 4 or higher for their respective team, be it IPL franchise or domestic set-up. No one has batted at No. 5, No. 6 or No 7, including Hardik Pandya. Hardik has played as a finisher for India but he came back after scoring heavily in the top 4 for Gujarat Titans,” Mukund told Star Sports Tamil.
“I think that’s where they are making a slight mistake. Suddenly, you are giving the batters another role and asking them to go after the bowlers straightaway.
