Was A Little Shocked After Not Being Picked For The Australia Series: Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik getting the nod ahead of Rishabh Pant as the backup wicketkeeper for the upcoming World Cup has been one of the biggest talking points since the announcement of the 15-man World Cup squad.  Speculations were rife that Karthik’s World Cup dreams are over after the selectors dropped him for the Australia series – India’s last assignment before the World Cup. Instead, the MSK Prasad-led panel named Pant in the squad, thus hinting that the youngster is above Karthik in the pecking order.

That snub made many speculate that highly-rated Pant will be MS Dhoni’s backup at the World Cup. But the selectors sprung a big surprise by naming Karthik ahead of Pant in the World Cup squad. Chief selector MSK Prasad revealed that while Pant was very close to make it to the World Cup, the selectors went for Karthik because of his experience.

Read More: IPL 2019: BCCI Ombudsman Summons Delhi Capitals Advisor Sourav Ganguly

“In unison, we felt either DK or Pant will only come into the playing eleven if Mahi is injured. So that at juncture if it is a crucial match, a quarterfinal or a semifinal, keeping also matters,” Prasad said.

“That is the only reason why we went ahead with DK otherwise Pant was almost there and unfortunate to miss out. Pant has a lot of talent,” he added.

And Karthik has now said that while he had no doubts over his spot in the World Cup squad, he was surprised with the selectors’ decision to drop him for the Australia series. Before getting dropped for the Australia series, Karthik had played as the finisher for the team. Since the 2017 Champions Trophy, Karthik scored 425 runs in 20 matches at an average of over 47. 22.  He also impressed with his finishing abilities during the tour of Australia and New Zealand.

“I was a little shocked after not being picked for the Australia series but I had faith that you know if it is meant to be it is meant to be. Some things are not in your control and it is better if you don’t think about them. I stayed in best shape cricketing wise in that period,” Karthik was quoted as saying by Times Now. 

Currently leading Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, Karthik said that he is just focussing on the job at his hand and not the World Cup.

Read More: Watch: Taskin Ahmed Breaks Down In Front Of Journalists After World Cup Snub 

“I am very happy now but there is a tournament (IPL) to play. I would be lying if I say I was thinking about the selection too much. It was only on the morning of selection I was thinking about it. Being a leader of the team (KKR), I have been trying to help everybody and focus on the job at hand,” he said.