Pant has the effect that Virender Sehwag or Adam Gilchrist used to have on rivals: Dinesh Karthik

Indian cricket team is a place of cut-throat competition. It does not take too long for players to get replaced and while not being in the best of form for a non-Indian player might be fine, an Indian player hardly has the luxury of getting game time to regain lost form. Dinesh Karthik is a case in point.

Not too long ago was he a part of the India team and played crucial knocks down the order. While it seemed that he might be able to make the position inside the team his own finally after spending long years under the shadow of MS Dhoni, he is now left to battle for the wicketkeeper and finisher’s spot with Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya and the likes.

Given the way the youngsters have performed for the country in the recent past, especially Pant, it seems unlikely and difficult for Karthik to find a position inside the team for himself. Not to mention that he is not on the right side of age. Despite that, the wicketkeeper-batter remains hopeful about making his place in the limited-overs of the team.

In a recent chat with Times of India, Karthik opened up on a list of things including Rishabh Pant’s role in the team. Praising his counterpart, Karthik reckoned that he has a similar impact on the opponents as Virender Sehwag or Adam Gilchrist sued to have.

India has a very good chance to win the WTC final, feels Karthik

“He lends flexibility to the team and the management has the opportunity to play the extra batsman or the bowler as per requirement. And what is most important is the way he instils fear in the mind of opposition. Pant has the effect that Virender Sehwag or Adam Gilchrist used to have on rivals,” Karthik said.

Speaking about Wriddhiman Saha, he said, “He has Wriddhiman Saha in the team, who, according to me, is the best wicketkeeper in the world. The way Saha is, he will always be ready to help him out…And I know for a fact even Parthiv Patel helped him out when he was in Australia,”

Karthik also feels India has a very good chance of winning the World Test Championship final. “New Zealand are playing two Test matches before against England, but I don’t think that will make any difference to India’s chances. It’s a superb side and if the batting clicks and partnerships happen, they have a very good chance.