"Not able to see them myself..." - Virat Kohli recalls how Dinesh Karthik helped in the most difficult phase
Published - 24 May 2024, 12:00 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 10:50 PM
Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli paid tribute to his teammate Dinesh Karthik following his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL). Virat Kohli also revealed how Dinesh Karthik boosted his confidence when he was going through a lean patch in 2022.
Dinesh Karthik played his last Indian Premier League match against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday, May 22. The Faf du Plessis-led team suffered a four-wicket loss in the knockout match in Ahmedabad. The RCB team failed to advance to 'Qualifier 2' in the IPL 2024.
The veteran wicketkeeper-batter scored 11 runs off 13 deliveries, including one boundary, in his final IPL match. Overall, Karthik scored 326 runs in 13 innings at a decent average of 36.22 and an outstanding strike rate of 187.35. The right-handed batter smashed two half-centuries with a best score of 83 runs.
While no official announcement has been made, Dinesh Karthik won't return to the IPL for the next season. RCB shared a video on X (formerly known as Twitter), featuring tributes from DK's wife Dipika Pallikal, Virat Kohli, Abhishek Nayar, and others.
DK, We love you! ❤
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I Shared The Change Room With Dinesh Karthik - Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli reminisced about his first impression of Dinesh Karthik during their first match together for India in the 2009 Champions Trophy in South Africa. Kohli stated that Karthik has become wiser and calmed down a lot over the years.
“First time I met DK, I remember we were playing in South Africa if I am not wrong in the Champions Trophy 2009. It was the first time I shared the change room with Dinesh and I found him to be very amusing, I would say hyperactive, confused person, most of the times he was moving all over the place, never stopping. That was my first impression of Dinesh,” Kohli said.
“Outstanding talent, brilliant batter to watch and my first impression and present day impression are not far apart. Just that he has become wiser and calmed down a lot,” he added.
Dinesh Karthik Gave Me A Very Honest Explanation - Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli acknowledged Dinesh Karthik's support during difficult periods. The 35-year-old stated that Karthik's great knowledge is not limited to cricket, describing him as a 'wise man'. Kohli said that he thoroughly cherishes conversations with the wicketkeeper-batter.
“Off the field, I have had some really nice and interesting conversations with him. He is wise man, has great knowledge about a lot of things, not just cricket. I have thoroughly enjoyed my conversations with him. Even in that phase in 2022 when I did not have a great IPL season, I was really struggling for confidence, he sat me down a couple of times and gave me a very honest explanation of how he is seeing things and that maybe I am not able to see them myself,” Kohli said.
Karthik had a respectable international career spanning 20 years, despite not being a consistent member of the national team. He played in 26 Tests, 94 ODIs, and 60 T20Is, scoring 1025 runs in Tests, 1752 in ODIs, and 686 in T20Is. The 38-year-old batter achieved one century and 17 half-centuries in his career.
