Dinesh Karthik competing for a middle-order slot in the Indian team

After a fabulous show in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for his state side Tamil Nadu, Dinesh Karthik feels he is ready to compete for the middle-order slot in the national team ahead of the Champions Trophy in June. The Tamil Nadu batsman has been a consistent performer for the side with 607 runs in 9 matches at the Vijay Hazare Trophy with an average of 86.71.

He, also helped his side win the trophy for the fifth time by scoring 112 runs in the final against Bengal. Previously, the 31-year-old amassed a total of 704 runs in the 10 Ranji Trophy matches that he played with an average of 54.15. The incredible consistency has put the selectors in a spot of bother.

“I see myself competing for a batsman’s slot. I keep scoring runs and at the moment the team has six-seven places for batsmen. So I think I can contribute in the team in that way,” Karthik said.

“I have been playing well for the last few seasons and my runs speak for themselves. I feel my batting skills are good enough to pick me solely as batsman,” he said dropping a subtle hint to the Indian team selectors before they pick the team for Champions Trophy.

Karthik has played 23 Tests and 73 One Day International for the national side, previously donning the jersey for the country in the Asia Cup clash against Afghanistan way back in the year 2014.

The recent Vijay Hazare century was his 10th List A century and would be hopeful of a call to the national side. Karthik would be seen in the Indian Premier League donning the orange jersey for the Suresh Raina-led Gujarat Lions.

He would want to use the IPL as an opportunity to prove his worth to the selectors ahead of the mega-event in June.