Dinesh Karthik cooked up a storm as a finisher in the IPL 2022 which inspired an inspirational comeback to the Indian team that had everyone abuzz on social media as it was one for the ages. Dinesh who was vying for a spot in the national team made it count whenever the opportunity to dazzle the selectors arose at the IPL.
However, since making his comeback he has had fans kicking their heels for him to appear as the finisher he has been extolled as. His role in the team so far has been fiddled with erratic changes to his batting position which has hindered Dinesh to emerge as the finisher the BCCI see him as. The shifty position of Dinesh became all the more glimmering when in the first T20I against Australia at Mohali, Dinesh was subject to being demoted as Axar was preferred to bat before him.
This puzzling decision got a lot of stick and was slated by a fair few cricket pundits as neither Axar nor Dinesh came good with the bat proving the decision to be counterproductive. Dinesh’s innings in unfavourable circumstances ended for just six runs off five balls. Pakistan head coach Mathew Hayden was also among those who vetoed the idea of demoting Dinesh with his input on his role and was taken unawares seeing Dinesh being held back.
"I was just thinking about the role of Dinesh. This role Dinesh is playing now, for the life of me, I can't work out why he wouldn't be in their batting now. It doesn't make any sense to me whatsoever. See. I don't want to give the impression that I'm disrespecting Dinesh Karthik but he should be batting more - it's actually the opposite," Hayden said on air during India-Australia first T20I match.
Axar walloped a six right after Hayden remarked on Axar’s promotion ahead of Dinesh but that didn’t waiver Hayden’s opinion one bit. Hayden stuck to his guns and believed that Axar can play a such shot at any position as opposed to Dinesh who should be preferred to him.
"I think he is such a good player that he can come in and play this exact same shot. I question the role that he is playing as a finisher. I think there is a role for him to come up the order," he added on Axar Patel.
Aussie legend’s comment found a kindred spirit in Indian veteran – Ajit Agarkar who concurred with his remark by echoing it. Ajit said, "I find it very strange with regards to Dinesh Karthik. He is a good enough batter to walk in now. Doesn't have to after the 16th over. And as improved as Axar Patel is, you have the expectation from Karthik to manage this sort of situation. At least you hope he does, considering he is playing ahead of Rishabh Pant as well in this XI. It happened in the South Africa series and again today, Axar is batting ahead of him".
