IND vs SA: Jasprit Bumrah's Comeback, Virat Kohli's Return To Form... - Dinesh Karthik Gives India's 2023 Wrap-Up

As per Indian wicketkeeper and commentator Dinesh Karthik, 2023 has been an excellent year for the Indian cricket team. As per Dinesh Karthik, India have played well at the bilaterals as always whereas they failed to win the finals of the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup.

Team India could not end 2023 with a win as they lost the first Test of the two-match Test series against South Africa by an innings and 32 runs. However, the year 2023 was an absolute blast for the Indian team with a few heartbreaks. India would want to make a winning start to 2024 when they take on South Africa from January 3 at the Sahara Park Newlands.

India lost to Australia on both occasions and were not able to end their ten-year-old drought of not winning an ICC title. Apart from India’s performance in the bilateral series and the ICC events, Dinesh Karthik revealed that the year was very great for the Indian team due to the return of Jasprit Bumrah.

Dinesh Karthik also hailed Virat Kohli and Indian captain Rohit Sharma and believed that Kohli’s comeback in all three formats in the year 2023 was commendable. Dinesh Karthik also stated that Rohit’s batting in the 2023 ODI World Cup was also a major success for India. Dinesh Karthik further added that KL Rahul’s return to international cricket as a batter and a keeper has been a great success story.

Dinesh Karthik reflects on key takeaways for Indian team from 2023

Dinesh Karthik said to Cricbuzz, “There have been many, many good things that have happened. Jasprit Bumrah’s return to cricket is a very, very important moment for us. The way Virat Kohli has just come back in all formats, the man has got the skill, hunger, and determination.”

“Rohit Sharma’s incredible batting during the World Cup, just standing up and wanting to be counted as a leader. KL Rahul’s comeback to international has been a great success story as well, not only as a batter but as a keeper as well.”

“2023 has been a year which has seen some of the best cricket Team India have played and some really heartbreaking days as well. Most of the bilaterals, I think we have aced, as always.”

“The 50-over World Cup that happened in India was a very special one. India played some brilliant cricket, barring the finals. As people would say, didn’t just go our way and Australia played way better on that day.”

India will be playing the 2024 T20 World Cup in June and July wherein they will be aiming to end their ICC title drought. The Indian team lost to England in the semi-final of the 2022 edition of the T20 World Cup and have not won the tournament since 2007.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will likely be playing in the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup as they are yet to feature for India in the shorter format after the 2022 T20 World Cup. On the other hand, it might be among Hardik Pandya or Suryakumar Yadav, who might be leading the ‘Men in Blue’ in the 2024 T20 World Cup.