While MS Dhoni’s legacy has been etched forever in the Indian cricket folklore, former Zimbabwe wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu has claimed he still feels Dinesh Karthik is more natural compared to Dhoni as a keeper and a batsman.
“The first time I saw Dhoni, if I’m to be honest…he had come with the India A side. I thought Karthik was more natural than Dhoni. And still, in keeping, he is more natural…even in batting he is more natural,” Taibu said on Fan Play-Sports Ruler ‘Inside Out With Baggs’ on YouTube.
“Now, the way he (MSD) keeps, his hands are not always together like you always have the little fingers together… when he catches his hands are always not like that. But he always manages to catch the ball and whip the bails in a flash with a very different technique…very different and odd technique,” Taibu added.
However, the former Zimbabwe wicket-keeper explained that Dhoni’s brilliant hand-eye coordination and his mental toughness separate him from others.
“Same thing about his batting…different technique. But great hand-eye co-ordination. But I don’t think it’s only his hand-eye coordination but probably his mental toughness. Normally if you don’t look the part, so to speak, it’s easy for coaches to just put you aside. But Dhoni backs that up with statistics,” Taibu said.
While Dhoni has played 90 Tests, 350 ODIs and 98 T20Is in his illustrious career so far, Karthik has failed to cement his spot in the Indian team and still finds himself out of favour from the side after a poor show at the World Cup last year. Karthik has so far played 26 Tests, 94 ODIs and 32 T20Is in his international career.
