'My record in T20s has been good' - Dinesh Karthik hopeful for a national comeback ahead of T20 World Cup 2020

In the 2018 Nidahas Trophy, India was up against Bangladesh in the final. When Dinesh Karthik walked in, India needed 34 runs off the last two overs. The equation got reduced to five from one delivery. Karthik smashed the ball over the covers and it went for a six. After years of being under the shadow of MS Dhoni, he had finally found his foot as a leading batsman of the Indian side, or at least everyone thought so.

For the past three or four seasons, Karthik has scored heavily in domestic cricket and often found his way into the Indian team. However, in those opportunities, the Tamil Nadu batsman hasn’t been able to stand up. The right-handed batsman also got an opportunity during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 but failed to make the most of it.

As the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is in October later this year, the 34-year-old believes he can still make a comeback into the Indian side.

“My record in T20s has been good. A big tournament like the World Cup did not go exactly as per the plan. I could understand the one day bit (being dropped from ODIs) but even now I would like to think that I stand a good chance in returning to the T20 side,” Karthik said while speaking to the Times of India.

‘I always have a burning desire to play for India’: Dinesh Karthik

Karthik went on to say that getting dropped after the World Cup 2019 did hurt but he has the desire to play for India again. “It does hurt (getting dropped), no doubt about that. I have always had this burning desire to play for my country and it hasn’t diminished one bit. That is how the sport has always been for me. Full of ups and downs. It has taught me a lot of things. It (being out of the team) is not something new to me so I am comfortable in the space that I am in.”

Dinesh Karthik has always been in and out of the Indian side. Having made his international debut in 2004, he has only featured on 26 Tests, 94 ODIs and 32 T20Is.

“There is a T20 World Cup round the corner and I know if I do well, I stand a good chance of making the team. I know it gets tougher every time. The team is getting stronger all the time and it is great to watch. But it is my duty to get better as a player and the rest will take care of itself,” the Tamil Nadu veteran said.

The IPL would have presented an opportunity to the batsman to make a comeback to the Indian side. He captains Kolkata Knight Riders and he has been a prolific performance in the league since joining the franchise.