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In the 2000s, India were in need of a wicketkeeper-batter. In the 2003 ODI World Cup, it was Rahul Dravid who selflessly took that role. But, India did not need a makeshift arrangement. They needed a proper wicketkeeper-batter. Many were tried including big names Parthiv Patel, Dinesh Karthik but finally they zeroed in on MS Dhoni, who turned out to be one of the best wicketkeeper-batter in white-ball cricket history. In a conversation during India Today Conclave South 2025, Karthik revealed how he came to know about the terrific ball-striker, Dhoni.
“I hadn’t seen him play much. But during that A series in Kenya, everyone was talking about one player, because he brought something new. The power with which he hit the ball was something people said they hadn’t seen before. Some were even comparing him to Gary Sobers, known for those massive sixes. MS Dhoni had a very different technique, but he was hitting the ball as hard as anyone people had ever witnessed. That was the buzz at the time,” said Karthik.
“Back then, India were using Rahul Dravid as the wicketkeeper. But Dravid had reached a point where he said, ‘Boss, I just want to focus on my batting. My body’s going through a lot trying to keep wickets.’ So the team started looking for a proper wicketkeeper. I stepped in briefly like a guest appearance in a movie. But the lead role was always meant for Dhoni. And when he arrived, he didn’t just impress India , he completely swept everyone off their feet. Very soon, he was making waves in international cricket as well,” he added.
As Dhoni rose in the ranks, Karthik had to find a spot for himself. In order to do so, he was willing to bat at any position. He did it in domestic cricket and even requested for a middle-order spot to get into the Indian team if there was one.
"When someone like that comes along, you need to look inward and ask yourself: What can I do to bring out the best version of myself? So I became a bit like a chameleon. If there was an opening slot available, I’d go back to Tamil Nadu and ask, Sir, can I open? I’d score runs as an opener just to find a place in the team. Similarly, if there was a vacancy in the middle order for India, I’d request to bat there — always looking for ways to break into the side. But my real challenge was holding on to that spot. I put so much pressure on myself that, at times, I didn’t do justice to what was really needed,” the 40-year-old said.
“Through that journey, I learned the importance of adapting to whatever is thrown at you — but even more importantly, the need for determination and resilience. I constantly did things that were uncomfortable for most players — like batting at No. 6 or 7 for the last five years of my career. But I embraced that role and used my strengths to succeed in it. MS Dhoni taught me a lot often in ways that weren’t direct, but deeply impactful,” he added.
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Karthik’s last white-ball appearances came in World Cups
Interestingly, Karthik's last ODI appearance was alongside Dhoni in the World Cup 2019 semifinal against New Zealand. Karthik was dismissed for a single-digit score whereas Dhoni shared a crucial 106-run partnership for the seventh wicket to keep the run chase alive. However, his 72-ball 50 wasn't enough. His wicket in the penultimate over turned out to be the last nail in the coffin.
On the back of the performances for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Karthik got a spot in the T20I team. His last T20I appearance was in the T20 World Cup 2022 against Bangladesh where he was run out for a single-digit score.
Karthik’s international record
Karthik has represented India in 26 Tests, 94 ODIs and 60 T20Is. He scored 1,025 runs from 42 innings in the red-ball format at an average of 25, including one century and seven fifties. In 79 ODI innings, he has 1,752 runs at an average of 30.20, including nine fifties. In the T20Is, he has 686 runs from 48 innings at an average of 26.38, including one fifty. His strike rate in T20Is is 142.61.
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