'Got A Lot Of Stick From My Wife And My Mum’ – Dinesh Karthik Apologizes For His Unpleasant ‘Neighbor’s Wife’ Remark

Updated - 05 Jul 2021, 11:53 AM

Dinesh Karthik-WTC Final (Photo Credit:Sky Sports)
Dinesh Karthik-WTC Final (Photo Credit:Sky Sports)

India wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik apologized for his remarks on-air during the second ODI on Thursday (July 1). He is currently on commentating duties during the England-Sri Lanka white-ball series and had tried to explain how batters are never happy with their own bats by citing an example of how a neighbor’s wife always feels better.

This is Dinesh Karthik’s time commentating full time and had taken charge during the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and New Zealand last month. It was an interesting move by the cricketer who is still active in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has impressed the fans and fellow experts with his jovial and charming approach.

Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik. Photo Credit: Twitter.

I Want To Apologize For What Happened Last Game. It’s Not Really What I Intended. I Just Got It All Wrong: Dinesh Karthik

During the second ODI between England and Sri Lanka, he had made a comment on air that didn’t sit well with both the fellow experts and the fans. Karthik drew parallels between cricket bats and the ‘neighbors’ wife’ while commentating on the game.

Watch: Dinesh Karthik Says "Bats Are Like Neighbour's Wife, They Always Feel Better" While Commentating In 3rd ODI Between England And Sri Lanka

“Batsmen and not liking bats, they go hand in hand. Most of the batters don’t seem to like their bats. They either like another person’s bat. Bats are like a neighbor’s wife. They always feel better,” said Dinesh Karthik during the 2nd ODI.

Three days and much criticism later for his comments, Karthik came up with the apology live-on-air during the third ODI at Bristol. The wicketkeeper-batsman also said that he received a lot of stick from his mother and wife for his comments.

Dinesh Karthik with wife Deepika Padikkal (Photo-Twitter)
Dinesh Karthik with wife Deepika Padikkal (Photo-Twitter)

“I want to apologize for what happened last game. It’s not really what I intended. I just got it all wrong. I apologize to everybody. It’s definitely not the right thing to say. I got a lot of stick from my wife and my mum for saying that,” Karthik said from the commentary box during the 3rd ODI.

He is expected to continue doing commentary in England for the upcoming five-Test series between the hosts and India. He will also be seen in the second half of the IPL 2021 when it resumes in September in UAE, where Karthik will turn out for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and might be asked to lead the team if captain Eoin Morgan doesn’t get the NOC from England board.