'This is one of the best team environments I have been in' - Dinesh Karthik lavishes praise on Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma

It has been a fairytale journey for Dinesh Karthik in the last two years. After a disappointing IPL season with KKR in 2021, the wicketkeeper-batter was part of the commentary team last year and Karthik’s international career was thought to be over. However, the 37-year-old backed himself and his sheer dedication and passion for the game led to his grand return to the Indian set-up.

The question was always there regarding the number of opportunities Karthik would get. He is not getting any younger, and with Hardik’s return, his spot in the playing XI is still a matter of discussion. He, however, is doing his job and helping team India cross the line.

This wouldn’t have been possible if there wouldn’t have been any clarity. A lot of players have lately appreciated the current Indian set-up, and Dinesh Karthik is the latest one to do so. The duo of Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid is yet to be properly tested in red-ball cricket, but there’s been a lot of positives in white-ball cricket.

“I think I have said it a lot, and I will keep saying it, I think this is one of the best team environments I have been in because of the consistency and continuity they seem to be giving to players. They are not judged on an everyday basis, and they are given time; they are given the opportunity to fail. I think it is very important to give players the opportunity to fail and then move on to the next player,” Karthik told reports before the fourth T20I against West Indies.

After scoring 330 runs in the IPL 2022, Karthik has gone on to become a dependable finisher for the Indian team. In the first T20I against the West Indies, his unbeaten 41 off just 19 balls helped India post a total of 190 runs on board.

With Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja’s inclusion in the squad, Karthik’s future needs to be seen. Even with such pressure, Karthik is enjoying his cricket and aiming to get better. The wicket-keeper batter is backed by the team management. He will feature in the last two T20Is against the Caribbean, and his impact will be monitored.

“Pressure is a privilege at this point in time. As a cricketer, as a sportsperson, it is something which is given only when you are playing at the highest level, and people expect certain things from you, so I am happy”, Karthik said.