Before R Ashwin, RCB mentor Dinesh Karthik signs for this ILT20 franchise as Gujarat Titans player's replacement

UPDATED: Sep 30, 2025 03:51 PM IST

Before R Ashwin, RCB mentor Dinesh Karthik signs for this ILT20 franchise as Gujarat Titans player's replacement

Sri Lankan cricketer Kusal Mendis plays a shot as wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik looks on during the fourth T20I of the tri-nation Nidahas Trophy at the R. Premadasa stadium in Colombo on March 12, 2018.

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Dinesh Karthik has replaced Kusal Mendis at Sharjah Warriorz.

5 Indian players including R Ashwin will enter the ILT20 auction.

While Ravichandran Ashwin has been talk of the franchise T20 leagues after his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket, it is wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik who has joined the ILT20 side Sharjah Warriorz already. On the eve of the auction, Sharjah Warriors roped in for the upcoming season where he will replace Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis.

“I am very excited to be joining the Sharjah Warriorz team for the ILT20 tournament. I know they are a young team, aspiring to do some special things, and I am happy to be here. Sharjah is also one of those iconic stadiums one always wants to play at. And to be a part of the franchise Sharjah Warriorz, makes a dream come true," Karthik said in a statement.

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The head coach of Sharjah Warriorz, Jean-Paul Duminy is happy to have the services of an experienced campaigner in the squad as he will also guide young players.

“Dinesh Karthik is one of the most experienced hands and an incredibly innovative mind when it comes to T20 cricket, and I am chuffed to have him in our corner for the upcoming edition of the DP World ILT20. The whole world has seen what he is capable of with the bat, and his explosive batting, dynamic personality, and immense experience will surely benefit the younger players significantly during the course of the tournament. I look forward to working with him closely,” Duminy said.

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Karthik’s T20 career

The 40-year-old has had a good record in T20s. From 412 games, he has 7,537 runs at an average of 27.01 and strike rate of 136.66. He is yet to score a century in the format. His high score in T20s is 97 not out. He has 35 half-centuries to his name.

Karthik’s ILT20 debut

Sharjah Warriorz qualified for the qualifiers last time. This year, they will begin their campaign at Sharjah Cricket Stadium against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders on December 3.

Ashwin set to script history at auction

Meanwhile, can be the most expensive player at the auction. He has been listed at base price of of $120,000. Other Indian players in the auction are Piyush Chawla, Priyank Panchal, Ankit Rajpoot and Siddarth Kaul.