ICC T20 World Cup 2024: "I'm 100% ready"- Dinesh Karthik sends message to Rohit Sharma for WC selection

While Dinesh Karthik has not played for Team India since 2022, he has still not given up on his dream of representing the country in international cricket.

The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman last played for Team India in the T20 World Cup 2022. After India exited the tournament at the semifinal stage, Dinesh Karthik was dropped from the team. Many believed that it was the end of the road for the Tamil Nadu man in international cricket.

However, his red-hot form in the ongoing IPL 2024 has once again put him in contention for this year's T20 World Cup with many suggesting that the in-form batter should be a part of the Indian contingent. Dinesh Karthik has taken the ongoing IPL 2024 by storm with his power-hitting and finishing.

Only Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis have scored more than him for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In seven games, he has scored 226 runs at a strike rate of more than 205 and an average of over 75. The right-handed batsman has hit 16 fours and an impressive 18 sixes in the competition so far.

Dinesh Karthik eyes T20 World Cup spot:

The finisher's spot in the Indian team is still up for grabs. Many believe that Dinesh Karthik should be given another chance in the Indian team. And while time will reveal the senior batter's fate, he has made it clear that he is still dreaming of playing for Team India. The RCB star has said that he would do "everything he can to be in that flight" to the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.

"At this stage in my life, it would be the greatest feeling for me to represent India. I'm very, very keen to do so. There is nothing bigger in my life other than representing India in this T20 World Cup," Dinesh Karthik said.

At the same time, Dinesh Karthik insisted that he would fully back the Big Three - coach Rahul Dravid, captain Rohit Sharma, and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar - for their decision.

"I also feel there are three very, very stable, honest people who are at the helm to decide what should be the best Indian team for the World Cup -- Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar.

"And I'm completely with them. I respect any decision that they take. But all I can say is I'm 100 per cent ready, and I'll do everything I can to be on that flight to the World Cup," he said.

Speaking further, Dinesh Karthik also opened up on his game plan and how he approaches his innings in the shortest format of the game. The 38-year-old stated that he is not a power-hitter like Andre Russell or Kieron Pollard and needs a different approach to do well in T20s.

"These days as a player, you need to understand your strengths. I'm not a Russell or a Pollard who can just mishit a ball and get a six for it, rather," said Karthik.

"So, I need to understand how I can beat gaps, what sort of balls I can hit for boundaries. And I realised there was a certain pattern in which bowlers were bowling to me, so I needed to try and work out a solution for that.

"Hence, when I practice, I try and understand, okay, if this is what they're going to bowl at me, how am I going to get a boundary, visualising a field that is going to be in place for me.

"So, I worked like that, and I worked backwards, and that helped me, you know, really learn a couple of shots more, at the back end. It's been great to go out there and express myself, and it's been thoroughly enjoyable to do what I'm doing for RCB as a finisher," he added.

Karthik will be in action again on Sunday (April 21) when RCB lock horns against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens.