Aakash Chopra Highlights How Dinesh Karthik Can Stake His Claim For The 2021 T20 World Cup

Kolkata Knight Riders’ captain Dinesh Karthik will try out his luck for the third time in the upcoming edition of the IPL. Dinesh Karthik took over the mantle in 2018 and while he has done a satisfactory job so far, much is expected of him this time around. As far as his chances in the Indian team goes for the 2021 World Cup, Aakash Chopra has highlighted what he needs to do.

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Dinesh Karthik last donned the Indian colours in the 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in which he consumed 25 balls for a single-digit score. While it looks a distant ask for the 34-year-old to make it to the ODI team, there remains an opportunity for the shortest format. Karthik is a genuine match-winner with the bat in T20Is as displayed in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy while he boasts of a strike rate of 143.52.

In a video on Facebook, Aakash Chopra responded to a fan by agreeing with him by saying Dinesh Karthik can come back to the national team. However, he needs to bat higher up in the order in the IPL, or he would not get a chance. Aakash emphasized that the keeper-batsman needs to have the runs under his belt to stake a claim.

“First thing is he should bat up the order for KKR. Because he bats too low down the order and when you bat so low, then your turn doesn’t come.

“So he has to bat up the order so that he can make a lot of runs. Otherwise if he bats at No.5 even when he is the captain of an IPL team, he will not have that many runs so that he can stake a claim,” the former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra said in a Facebook video.

Dinesh Karthik will have to manage somehow to bat at number four: Aakash Chopra

The 42-year-old reminded that there are KL Rahul and Rishab Pant are in the mix too; hence if he wants to play the 2021 T20 World Cup, he has to have two good IPL tournaments. Furthermore, the Tamil Nadu-born cricketer has to bat at number four if he comes in the side.

“Yes, he does well as a keeper. But don’t forget that at the moment the Indian team has KL Rahul as well apart from Rishabh Pant. So, if Dinesh Karthik wants to get a spot in the Indian team for the 2021 World Cup, then he will have to play two good IPLs.

“And in my opinion he will have to somehow manage to bat at No.4 in which case he can come in the team, there is no doubt about it,” Aakash Chopra added.

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