Dinesh Karthik to become Shahid Afridi with retirement U-turn? RCB star says he's "prepared to play for another 3 years"

Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik opened up about his decision to retire after the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. He made a bold statement, saying that he could’ve played for a few years but he didn’t want to leave with any guilt inside him.

One of the most reputed names in Indian cricket, Dinesh Karthik, called his retirement from cricket after the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. He arguably was one of the best keeper-batters to have played for India as well as the IPL.

Dinesh Karthik, who has been playing since 2006, has seen Indian cricket as well as the IPL growing by leaps and bounds. The keeper-batter during his career was sensational and if there has to be one name associated with him, it would be “man of comebacks”.

One of the main highlights of Dinesh Karthik was the amount of hard work that he put and it’s fair to say that even during his fag end career, he was one of the fittest to have played the game. The keeper-batter made sure that he ended his career on high.

Playing for Royal challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2024, Dinesh Karthik gave his best with the bat. The keeper-batter played the finisher’s role to perfection and 326 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 187.36. He was one of the main reasons behind the team’s comeback in the league.

Talking about his career, Dinesh Karthik stated that he is still physically fit and could’ve played for three years but mentally he wasn’t ready. The keeper-batter stated that his mind didn’t allow him to play and he felt it would be hard for him to play matches. Speaking on Cricbuzz, he stated:

“I think I am physically very much prepared to play for another three years. Especially with the Impact Player rule, it becomes that much easier. So in terms of playing the sport, easily I think I could've pushed for another cycle. I don't have too many issues in my life. Touch wood, I have never missed a game because of an injury through my three decades. I've been blessed that way. I was never worried about my body or my fitness.

“It was all about the mental side of things, whether I'll be able to push as much in the lead-up to the tournament, whether if I don't play as many matches, will I be okay with it. I am a big believer in whatever I look to do, I try to give it 100% commitment and do whatever I can to be the best in that. And I thought from hereon for me to play X amount of matches is going to be hard.”

Dinesh Karthik further stated that had he played for a few more seasons he would’ve had the guilt because he wouldn’t have stood on the benchmarks that he has set in his career. He added:

“Mentally pushing myself for so long in terms of doing everything in the lead-up, even if I falter a little bit I wouldn't be... even though from the outside people wouldn't know, but internally I would find it very hard and I would be living with guilt. I don't want that.

“At the end of the day, it is a professional sport and people are paying you and they expect a certain performance and that comes with responsibilities. I want to live up to those responsibilities internally to all the benchmarks that I have set. When I thought about that, I said, 'No I don't think I'll be doing that.' Add to the fact that I have a little bit of a young family, so spending time with them [is important].”

Would’ve been a bit unfair on the team because they've picked me at a certain price point - Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik further added that had he played, considering he wouldn’t have given his best, it could’ve been unfair on the team. He added that he realized that he couldn’t play for India and all that made him take the call. He added:

“Those are all small factors, and I think the big one was whether I can do it for the next three years because even if I go into this cycle and I play one year, I think it is a tad bit unfair on the team because they've picked me at a certain price point. If I don't play the cycle or I walk into the tournament knowing that I won't finish the cycle, then it is a little bit unfair on the team because they could have used that resource on a player they knew would be there for all three seasons.

“Taking all that into account, I thought this is the time [to retire]. And most importantly, the fact that no matter what I do, I cannot play for India again was very evident. So it was the last nail in the coffin,” he concluded.