The Fire Is Still Burning Very Brightly To Play T20 Cricket For India: Dinesh Karthik

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik said that he still has the ambition for once again playing for the Indian national team.

Karthik’s international career has been a roller-coaster ride as he was overlooked by the selectors during the monumental period of MS Dhoni. Karthik would play for India whenever Dhoni was rested for a series or a game.

Karthik last played for India in their 2019 World Cup semi-final exit against New Zealand. The Tamil Nadu wicket-keeper has played 152 international matches since making his ODI debut in 2004.

My main aim is to play for the country again: Dinesh Karthik

Karthik still plays for Tamil Nadu in the white-ball domestic competitions, he scored 376 runs from seven innings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021-22 season including 116 in the final against Himachal Pradesh.

Karthik said he still has the appetite to play for India in the shortest format and that is the reason he still plays in domestic competitions.

“It is about playing the sport, I genuinely harbour the ambition of playing for the country again and I want to do everything possible, that is my ultimate goal. I train and practice, everything I do right now is working towards that goal. The next three years for me is about playing the sport and doing everything I can. I enjoy playing the sport,” Karthik told news agency ANI.

“That is why I go and play Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare for Tamil Nadu. The kind of success we have had as a state team has been phenomenal and me being a part of that journey is something I have thoroughly enjoyed. My main aim is to play for the country again, especially the T20 format. T20 is something, the fire is still burning very brightly,” he added.

I have enjoyed the commentary stint: Dinesh Karthik

Since the last one year, the Indian player has opted for a new role of a commentator since he was seen with Sky Sports in England’s summer last year.

Karthik said that he is savouring his commentary duties and will consider it as an option after his retirement from the game.

“Obviously, I have enjoyed the commentary stint, but this is something I want to pursue in a serious fashion when I hang up my boots which I am planning to not do very soon. I think for me, playing the sport is of utmost importance and I want to do that for a bare minimum of three years. Post that, I will decide on taking it up seriously but for the moment, I am happy that people have liked me doing commentary,” he said.

“Obviously, it gives me an option to think about later and it is hard for me to pinpoint why I was liked. At the end of the day, the more people appreciate what you say, it helps you and it gives me good insight into my reading of the game and the way I look at things. I am happy it is showing on my cricket as well,” he added.

Karthik was captain of IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders since IPL 2018 and he stepped down from the role in the middle of the IPL 2020 season. The Tamil Nadu player was released by KKR ahead of IPL 2022 auction.

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