With the T20 World Cup 2024 just around the corner, all eyes are on the IPL as a selection ground for the Indian team. In a recent interview on the Club Prairie Fire podcast, Indian captain Rohit Sharma addressed the crucial wicketkeeper's role and talked about Dinesh Karthik's prospects for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Few days back, during an IPL match, Rohit Sharma playfully poked fun at Dinesh Karthik about his chances of making the T20 World Cup squad. While many saw it as a lighthearted comment, Karthik responded emphatically with a stunning 83* off just 45 balls against the Chennai Super Kings. This powerful performance sent a clear message about his World Cup aspirations. A few days later, when asked about Karthik's chances, Rohit delivered a witty reply. He acknowledged the difficulty of convincing the retired MS Dhoni to return, but playfully suggested that Dinesh Karthik would be ‘easier to convince'. This humorous remark highlighted the neck-to-neck competition for the wicketkeeper's spot in India's T20 World Cup squad.
"I was quite impressed, quite impressed, especially with Dinesh. The way he batted a couple of nights back. Dhoni, as well, he came to play 4 balls, made a huge impact, with those 20 runs. That was eventually the difference in the game," Rohit said in the podcast.
MS Dhoni might have played his last game at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, a venue that witnessed many of his triumphs. In a fitting farewell, Dhoni finished the match in style, smashing three consecutive sixes in the final over against Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya. This vintage knock from Dhoni, along with a century from Rohit Sharma in the same match, sent both fans and experts into a frenzy.
While Rohit jokingly ruled out the possibility of a return from the retired Dhoni, who he playfully described as ‘a bit sick and tired’, his comments hinted at Karthik's strong position in the race for the wicketkeeper's spot in the upcoming T20 World Cup squad. Rohit's lighthearted remark about "convincing" Karthik foreshadowed the wicketkeeper's potential selection.
"It'll be hard to convince MSD for sure to come to the West Indies I guess. He is sick and tired. He is coming to the US though to do something else. He is into golf, so he will play golf I guess. DK will be easy to convince I guess," Rohit said.
Rohit reveals on-field conversation with Dinesh Karthik during MI vs RCB match
During an IPL match between MI and RCB, Rohit Sharma's comment caught on the stump mic sparked a viral moment. Rohit playfully teased his good friend Dinesh Karthik, who had just smashed a brilliant 53 runs off just 23 balls for RCB. Rohit's comment hinted at Karthik's impressive performance and his potential selection for the upcoming T20 World Cup squad.
This phrasing removes the speculation about Rohit's intentions and focuses on the playful banter and the significance of Karthik's knock.
"I was just trying to put some pressure on him. Eventually, after the game against SRH, he went and spoke after the SRH game. I think that some captain was asking if I was ready for the World Cup, this is the answer from me," Rohit further added.
Dinesh Karthik has been balancing his commitments between commentating duties and playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL. He's been in top form recently, showcasing his skills with a valiant knock of 83 runs off just 35 balls. Despite this impressive feat, RCB almost fell short of chasing down the record-breaking IPL total of 287 runs set by the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Karthik's recent performances solidify his impressive return to the Indian national team in 2022, where he participated in the T20 World Cup. However, since their match against Bangladesh in Adelaide, he hasn't been included in the subsequent national team selections. The upcoming T20 World Cup selection is up for grabs, and Karthik's strong IPL showing has him firmly in contention for a spot on the team. He has scored 226 runs in seven matches for RCB in the ongoing IPL 2024.
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