Dinesh Karthik unlikely to be picked for West Indies ODIs; might be the end of the road in the format

He has been one of the most prominent survivors in Indian cricket. Having made his international debut way back in 2004 as a 19-year-old, Dinesh Karthik has gone on to play for India in a decade-and-half and chipped in across formats, though not consistently. He also got to play his first World Cup game this year in England but in two outings that he got, the Tamil Nadu wicket-keeper-batsman failed to deliver and this looks to be the end of his road, especially in the ODIs.

Karthik made his ODI debut against England at Lord’s in 2004 as the wicket-keeper and in that way, he is even senior to India’s perennial keeper-batsman MS Dhoni. However, his two ordinary outings in the World Cup –  could be curtains for his 50-over career. In nearly 15 years, Karthik has played in only 94 matches in which he scored 1,752 runs at an average of just around 30 and with nine fifties.

According to a report in Mid-Day, Dinesh Karthik, who had won India a thrilling final in the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka last year with a last-ball six, will not be part of the India squad headed for the West Indies early next month. The selection panel will meet on Friday to pick the side.

Karthik was picked ahead of Rishabh Pant as the second wicket-keeper in the World Cup squad but he eventually got to play as a specialist batsman in a few games along with Pant, who replaced an injured Shikhar Dhawan during the tournament. Now, with his ordinary outings, it seems the team management has its plan to look beyond him, just as it done in Tests last year.

Shreyas Iyer set to make a comeback?

The report added that Mumbai batsman Shreyas Iyer, who is currently touring the West Indies as a member of the India A squad, will get the nod for the tour and could be used at no. 4, a spot which has remained uncared for far too long. Iyer, who led Delhi Capitals impressively in the Indian Premier League this year, scored 77, 2 and 47 in the first three games of the five-match series against Windies A that the India colts have won.

Iyer had made his international debut in 2017 but did not get a game for India after February 2018. Other new faces that India could try in the West Indies tour are Shubman Gill, Navdeep Saini and others. Manish Pandey, who is leading India A in the Caribbeans, could get another go.