Dinesh Karthik to replace Manish Pandey for Champions Trophy

Dinesh Karthik is all set to don the national colours yet again in the upcoming Champions Trophy at the expense of Manish Pandey who has been ruled out due to an injury. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) broke the news through their official Twitter handle. Karthik was also a part of the Indian squad which won the Champions Trophy in 2013.

The wicketkeeper-batsman was on the standby list for the tournament that was named along with the squad of 15 who will fly to London and as soon Pandey was declared unfit, Karthik was drafted in. He has been in exceptional form in the IPL and many critics and experts had tipped him to be a part of the squad purely as a batsman. In 14 matches this season, Karthik has amassed 361 runs at an impressive average of 36 and a great strike rate of nearly 140.

He has also been safe behind the stumps and can also play the role of the 2nd wicketkeeper in case Dhoni gets injured in between the tournament. On the other hand, it will be a big blow for Pandey who was set to play his first ICC tournament. It will a bitter pill to swallow for Pandey but he has to take it in his stride and move forward.

Pandey wasn’t a part of the playing XI of Kolkata Knight Riders in the Eliminator clash against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 17 due to side strain which not only ruled him out of the rest of the IPL but also from the Champions Trophy.

In the ongoing season of the IPL Pandey has played some match-winning innings and proved to be a vital member of the two-time champions in the middle order. He would rue to have missed this opportunity while it opens another door for DK.