Sanju Samson namedropped as Irfan Pathan mocks 'CSK player' Ambati Rayudu's World Cup claim for Dinesh Karthik
Updated - 16 Apr 2024, 05:08 PM
Former Indian cricketers Ambati Rayudu and Irfan Pathan were involved in a massive argument over the selection of Dinesh Karthik in the Indian Team for the T20 World Cup 2024. This comes after keeper-batter's sensational innings for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
Dinesh Karthik has been in magnificent touch in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The keeper-batter has been tremendous for Royal Challengers Bengaluru down the order and made sure that his team finishes innings on high in almost every game that he played for the team in the tournament.
His best came in the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday (15th April) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Chasing the mammoth target of 288 runs, Dinesh Karthik kept the hopes of fans alive and played a blinder while batting down the order.
He attacked the opposition bowlers and played a sensational innings of 83 runs off just 35 balls. With Dinesh Karthik scoring consistently for the RCB in the tournament, there have been calls to add him to the India team for the T20 World Cup 2024.
Even India captain Rohit Sharma teased Dinesh Karthik during the game between MI and RCB. The keeper-batter came up with a blistering cameo down the order for his team and this made Rohit say to him that Karthik wants to play World Cup and is giving his everything for that.
After Dinesh Karthik's knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Ambati Rayudu backed the keeper-batter to be part of the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. He believes that RCB batter will have the golden opportunity to end his career on high. Speaking on Star Sports, he explained:
"I have seen him from a young age. He is very talented. He has always remained under the shadows of MS Dhoni and hence did not get consistent opportunities. Probably, one last time, he could become a match-winner for India, and he would have that golden opportunity to end his career with the World Cup and help India win that trophy. I feel India should take him to the World Cup."
Irfan Pathan, however, didn't agree with Ambati Rayudu and stated that although Dinesh Karthik is in top form but playing for India is altogether a different thing. He elaborated:
"See, I must praise Dinesh Karthik. He is looking in top form. But Indian cricket is on a different level. The World Cup is a different level. There you don't get uncapped players bowling to you. There are no impact-player rules in the World Cup. There are only 11 players. So playing there is a different pressure altogether."
Rayudu then replied “This is the ball. This is the white kookaburra ball. Karthik is a seasoned player.”
Pathan then stated: “There is facing Jasprit Bumrah and then there...,” to which Rayudu responded: "Karthik just hit Pat Cummins for a six.”
There is a lot of difference between facing an uncapped player and a seasoned bowler - Irfan Pathan on Dinesh Karthik's selection for the World Cup
Irfan Pathan further went on to highlight that there is a lot of difference between playing in IPL and at the International level. He stressed that he would prefer Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson ahead of Dinesh Karthik. He added:
"There is a lot of difference between facing an uncapped player and a seasoned bowler. You just said he played under the shadows of Dhoni. So now that Dhoni is not there, you want him to play and put Pant in his shadows. Is that right? Had Pant not been in form, I would have agreed. But I feel I would have Samson ahead of Karthik now. We must put aside the current players, who are in the scheme of things, because another player is in form now."
Pathan then took a dig at Ambati Rayudu, saying that the latter is a CSK player, who believes in making Dad's army but this won't work for India. He added:
"This person is a CSK player. CSK players always want senior cricketers to be part of the team, and make it a Dad's army. But this is Indian cricket.”
Rayudu then stated: "Imagine India needs 12 runs to win, and Karthik scores both those sixes and the team wins." To this, Pathan concluded: “There is nothing better than India winning.”
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Tagged:
India National Cricket Team Dinesh Karthik IPL 2024 T20 World Cup 2024 Irfan Pathan Ambati Rayudu
