I didn't lose my place to a normal cricketer, it was MS Dhoni: Dinesh Karthik

India’s wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik reiterated that he didn’t lose his place to a normal cricketer, it was MS Dhoni on his comeback to the India Test squad.

Meanwhile, Karthik replaced Wriddhiman Saha as the latter sustained a thumb injury. He returns to the squad after a gap of eight years. Previously, Karthik had to contend with Dhoni for a place in the Test side. Later, Wriddhiman Saha pushed the likes of Karthik and Parthiv Patel to domestic cricket.

However, did not look at his comeback after eight years as a second wind or a comeback of sorts.

“It feels very good to wear the whites again,” Karthik said here on Tuesday.

Karthik has pipped Parthiv Patel to the Test wicketkeeping slot after Saha’s injury. Patel was the second option during the South Africa tour earlier this year. Now, with his IPL performances and current form, Karthik has got the nod ahead of Patel.

Karthik admitted he did not perform well enough in the 23 Tests that he has played from 2004 to 2010.

“I wasn’t consistent enough. There was a highly competitive environment. MS Dhoni was breathing down my neck, who was causing a lot of stir in Test cricket at that point of time. So, it’s not that I lost out my place to some normal cricketer,” he added.

“I think I need to be honest with myself. I think I wasn’t as good then. I have another opportunity now and I guess I will try to do my best,” Karthik admitted.

Karthik’s slams Stanikzai’s comments

Karthik did not buy into the theory that Afghanistan spinners were stronger than India. Afghanistan skipper Asghar Stanikzai recently said that his spinners were better than India’s.

“We have a lot of experience. Not only Test match cricket but also domestic cricket. Clearly, all their spinners put together would not have played as many matches as say a Kuldeep Yadav would have played in four-day cricket. At the end of the day, experience has a lot of value,” he concluded.

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