IND vs PAK: Dinesh Karthik Speaks On Virat Kohli's 122-Run Knock vs Pakistan In Asia Cup 2023, Says 'Very Much Comparable To What Novak Djokovic Has Done'

Veteran India batsman and wicketkeeper, Dinesh Karthik opened up on Virat Kohli’s stupendous 122-run knock against Pakistan on Monday (September 11th) at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and compared the star Indian batsman with Tennis great, Novak Djokovic who recently got hold of his 24th Grand Slam title after winning the US Open 2023.

In the third Super Fours match of the Asia Cup 2023, India won the match by 228 runs after the Men in Blue dominated in both innings.

Virat Kohli was named the Player of the Match after he played a stunning knock in the first inning, and made a strong partnership with KL Rahul, who just returned from his thigh injury.

While speaking on Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik said that to get 13000 runs in 267 innings is unreal and compared the former India batsman with Novak Djokovic.

According to Karthik, the Serbian started his career when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were in their peak form, just like Virat Kohli.

“To get it in 267 innings is unreal. It is very much comparable to what Novak Djokovic has done because when he started his career, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were flying, and they reached a point where they said no man in the open era can reach what they have done.

“But Djokovic has come and said, ‘I am going to change everything about that.’. He has gone on to achieve more than them in terms of numbers. What this man has achieved in 267 innings is come close to some of the greats who have played the game, and we are adding up all the formats,” Dinesh Karthik said.

He has played far lesser innings than Sachin Tendulkar, and that will be the greatness of Virat Kohli: Dinesh Karthik

The veteran Indian batsman praised Virat Kohli and said that he completed his 13000 runs in lesser inning than Sachin Tendulkar, and that is why the 34-year-old batsman is known as the greatest.

“To score runs in T20 cricket is not easy. First of all, you won’t get the volume. The number of balls and number of runs you could score obviously reduces a lot. But in spite of all of that, for him to come about and do that in 267 innings, hats off to the man.

“You can say maybe he will fall short just because of the amount of cricket he is playing; he might not end up getting there. He has played far lesser innings than Sachin Tendulkar, and that will be the greatness of Virat Kohli,” Dinesh Karthik added.

India locked horns against Sri Lanka in the fourth Super Fours match of the Asia Cup 2023 on Tuesday (September 11th).