ENG vs IND 2018: I Am Feeling Nervous And A Little Excited: Dinesh Karthik

Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik insisted the mood in the team is upbeat ahead of the five-match Test series against England.

India will be looking to avenge the loss in ODIs when they take on England in the upcoming five-match Test series. Virat Kohli & Co. had started the tour on a stunning note. The thoroughly outplayed the hosts to win the T20Is 2-1. The Men in Blue then went on to win the first ODI impressive, thrashing England by 8 wickets.

However, things have not looked bright since then. England won the remaining two ODIs quite comfortably to seal the series. India were then made to toil hard by Essex in the only warm-up game. The performance from the world number one Test side left a lot to be desired.

However, Karthik said the dressing room is in a upbeat mood. He also acknowledged captain Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri for leading the unit from the front.

“We are looking forward to it as a team and we are excited to see the captain and coach leading us from the front with a lot of positive energy and positive vibes, so at this point of time the mood in the camp is upbeat,” he said.

Unlike the team, Karthik had an impressive outing in the warm-up game. The right-handed batsman top-scored for the visitors by scoring 82. The knock would have done his confidence a world of good as he gets ready to don the big gloves in a Test series in England exactly 10 years after his impressive knocks against the same opposition.​

Karthik, who made his Test comeback against Afghanistan in June, will replace Wriddhiman Saha, who is set to undergo shoulder surgery.

The Tamil Nadu star had played a pivotal role in India’s last series win in England. He had scored 60 at Lord’s, 77 at Trent Bridge and 91 at the Oval as India won the series 1-0.

And Karthik admitted he is feeling nervous. At the same time, he also said that he was excited.

“I am feeling nervous and a little excited. Playing Test cricket after a long time, and I am looking forward to it. Playing in England is a great challenge, and like any other player, I am as excited as I can be,” Karthik told BCCI.TV.

Interestingly, Karthik is the only surviving player from that tour of 2007, when India last won a Test series in England under Rahul Dravid.

“I don’t remember so far back, my memory is so bad. I do remember it as the highlight of my career (so far). It was a terrific Test series – one of the few series where both sides played the same XI through the three Tests.

“It just goes to show how competitive it was. Both teams didn’t feel the need to make any changes, which shows the kind of quality of cricket in the contest,” Karthik fondly recollected.

The five-match Test series gets underway in Birmingham on August 1.