India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik is playing his 250th IPL match as he stepped on the field for KKR vs RCB at the iconic Eden Gardens. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru star is the third only player to do so after MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.
Dinesh Karthik with 250 IPL appearances
Dinesh Karthik, who began his IPL journey with the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), is among a select group of seven players to have participated in every IPL season since its 2008 inception. He’s in the company of cricket stars like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Wriddhiman Saha, and Manish Pandey. Remarkably, Karthik has missed only two matches in 16 seasons.
Karthik has played for six different IPL teams, starting with Delhi Daredevils (2008-14), followed by Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in 2011, then stints with Mumbai Indians (2012-13), Gujarat Lions (2016-17), Kolkata Knight Riders (2018-21), and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2015, 2022-present). Across 249 matches, he has scored 4,742 runs with a striking rate of 135, including 22 half-centuries.
DK throws hat in the ring for T20 WC Squad
Dinesh Karthik had a disappointing 2023 IPL season, managing only 140 runs at an average of slightly over 11. However, he has made a remarkable comeback in this year’s IPL, with a striking rate exceeding 205. Karthik has become RCB’s third-highest run-scorer with 226 runs, trailing behind only Virat Kohli (361) and Faf du Plessis (232).
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Karthik reaffirmed his reputation as a top finisher by hammering 83 off 35 balls, helping RCB set a total of 262 while chasing Sunrisers Hyderabad’s massive target of 287. Despite his explosive performance, RCB couldn’t secure the win.
Nonetheless, Karthik’s form has reignited conversations about his potential selection for India’s upcoming T20 World Cup squad, which will be announced soon. His powerful hitting and vast experience could make him an invaluable asset for the national team as they prepare for the world stage.
“At this stage in my life, it would be the greatest feeling for me to represent India (at the upcoming T-20 World Cup). I’m very, very keen to do so. There is nothing bigger in my life other than representing India in this T-20 World Cup,” Dinesh Karthik said in the pre-match press conference.
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