Out of favour India batsman, Dinesh Karthik is hoping to assume the role of a finisher in the Indian cricket team once again. The Tamil Nadu keeper-batsman managed only 14 runs in two innings in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 and has been kept out of the scheme of things since then.
However, the 34-year-old, who will once again lead the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2020, has not lost any hope of a comeback in the national side.
With Rishabh Pant still not looking settled in the team and the T20 World Cup happening next year in Australia, Karthik feels he still has a chance to return to the national fold.
“Finisher’s role is something which I have always enjoyed. If given an opportunity, I will definitely like to prove myself again,” he told at an event on Saturday.
In the domestic circuit, Karthik has been a run-machine. He scored 418 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at an average of almost 60, and was equally impressive in the Syed Mushtaq Ali where he batted at a strike rate of 126.47.
“I haven’t tried to do anything different and alter my game. I always ask myself what is the toughest situation that a player faces. It is to win matches for your team be it for TN or my IPL team (Kolkata Knight Riders). So I always want to bail out my team under tough situations by using my experience and prowess. Everybody tries to get into the India side and I’m not an exception. I am trying very hard to be a part of the India set-up again,” Karthik said.
As for now, the batsman is looking forward to the Ranji Trophy. Tamil Nadu’s campaign begins on Monday against Karnataka.
“I am enjoying myself while playing for TN. You won’t get a more focused team than us right now. We want to reach the knockouts but we have to take one step at a time because we are in a very tough group,” Karthik said.
