Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) designated finisher Dinesh Karthik has put his name in contention for India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad. Karthik has scored at a strike rate over 200 which has led to him becoming a contender for the wicketkeeper-batter spot. But former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) head coach Tom Moody doesn’t feel Karthik should be India’s first choice wicketkeeper-batter for the mega event.
"At this stage in my life, it would be the greatest feeling for me to represent India (at the upcoming T-20 World Cup). I'm very, very keen to do so. There is nothing bigger in my life other than representing India in this T-20 World Cup," Karthik had said in a pre-match press conference before the clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Meanwhile, Karthik has been out of the Indian side since Rohit Sharma-led side's exit from T20 World Cup 2022. Former Australian cricketer Moody joked that the veteran will have to give up his commentary commitments if he wants a seat on the bus for India's T20 squad.
"Well, I think, firstly, I think that Dinesh Karthik will have to resign his commentary commitments for the World Cup to make himself available for the Indian team," Moody said before the clash between KKR and RCB game on Jio Cinema.
Moody backs Pant
Moody went on to say that he would include Delhi Capitals (DC) Rishabh Pant over Karthik as he plays spin better.
"I personally believe that Pant is the person that is the number one in that role purely because he's proving his fitness. And I'm saying proving because I think there's still time to go. His batting is showing that he hasn't lost too much of that touch, and that's only going to get better and better with time," said the 58-year-old.
"But most importantly for me, he's a left-hander, and India need a left-hander in the middle order. If they don't have a left-hander in the middle order, they will be exposed, particularly in the Caribbean, where we'll see probably two spinners operate in that middle phase," he added.
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While Karthik has been scoring at a brish pace, Pant is DC's leading run-scorer in the tournament with 254 runs from eight games at an average of 36.29 including two half-centuries. His strike rate is 150.30.
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