After the Royals Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) match, talks about Dinesh Karthik’s inclusion in India’s T20 World Cup squad sprouted up. Amidst discussions around the wicketkeeper-batter's comeback, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan said that Karthik should not be picked in the T20 World Cup squad based on his stunning performance in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
He said that Karthik is looking in top-notch form but he will face a tougher challenge in the World Cup because the bowling standards are different from IPL and there is no cushion of a 12th in the squad in the form of an impact player.
"He is playing in full flow; he is looking in great rhythm. But Indian cricket and World Cup are on a different level. In World Cups, you won't see uncapped players bowling. There is no Impact rule either. Your batting becomes a little limited there and playing in that pressure is different," Irfan said on Star Sports.
In IPL 2024, he has been in sensation form scoring 226 runs at an average of 75.33 with a strike-rate of 205.45 with two half-centuries. During the match against Pat Cummins-led Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on April 15, Karthik was at his very best. He belted 83 off 25 balls. His stupendous knock was laced with five fours and seven sixes. His knock helped RCB finish their innings at 262 for seven while chasing a record-breaking target of 288. Karthik's efforts went in vain as RCB lost to SRH by 25 runs at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Meanwhile, Ambati Rayudu backed the RCB star for a place in the 15-member squad for the World Cup. He wants Karthik to end his career on the big stage.
'He has always been in the shadow of MS Dhoni'
"From his childhood, I have seen how talented he is. He has always been in the shadow of MS Dhoni and he did not get a lot of opportunities to showcase his talent. He has a golden chance to be India's match-winner one last time and end his career by lifting the World Cup. So, I believe that Karthik should be taken to the World Cup," Rayudu said.
ALSO READ: WATCH: This is how pained Virat Kohli reacted to RCB’s fifth straight loss in IPL 2024 following 25-run defeat against SRH
Karthik for T20 World Cup?
The T20 World Cup is set to begin in June after IPL 2024. BCCI is on the hunt to choose a wicketkeeper in the line-up. While Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson are the frontrunners, Karthik has put his name in contention.
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