Indian cricket star Irfan Pathan shared his view. He didn’t think Dinesh Karthik deserved a T20 World Cup spot. Despite Karthik’s shining IPL 2024 displays. Pathan reasoned that Rishabh Pant’s skill would suffer. If overshadowed by Karthik’s selection for the World Cup squad.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) set the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) a massive 288-run goal in an IPL 2024 match in Bengaluru on Monday, April 15. Despite Karthik’s 35-ball 83, RCB finally lost by 25 runs.
During a conversation on Star Sports, Pathan was critical of Ambati Rayudu’s decision to include Dinesh Karthik in India’s T20 World Cup roster.
“Indian cricket needs to look forward. You (Rayudu) spoke about Dinesh Karthik playing in MS Dhoni’s shadow. Now you want him to be picked because MS Dhoni isn’t playing. We will then move Rishabh Pant in his shadow – is that correct? I would have said it’s okay if Rishabh Pant hadn’t been in form.”
“However, here I feel Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma, who was playing recently, are ahead of Dinesh Karthik. If you sideline a current player who has been in the regular scheme of things just because some other guy is performing, it will be an injustice to the player.”
Irfan Pathan
Pant might compete with Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma, KL Rahul, and Ishan Kishan for the wicketkeeper-batsman position in India’s T20 World Cup team. Karthik might also become a candidate if he continues to perform well for RCB in the IPL 2024.
Irfan Pathan Comments on Dinesh Karthik’s Performance in IPL 2024
While praising Dinesh Karthik’s performance for RCB in IPL 2024, Irfan Pathan pointed out that the T20 World Cup provides a far greater challenge.
“You will have to praise Dinesh Karthik here because of the way he is batting. He is looking in proper rhythm. He is hitting a six with a switch hit off Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s bowling. So he has time and is showing great form. However, the World Cup is played at a different level.”
Irfan Pathan
Against quality bowlers in the World Cup, Dinesh Karthik must prove his comeradicable return at 37. His recent chances were a test, of course – but nothing matches big stage pressure.
“Uncapped players don’t bowl to you in a World Cup. You don’t have the Impact Rule as well in the World Cup. Only 11 players are there, 12 players are not there, so your batting becomes shorter. Playing under that pressure is different.”
“You will get four or five experienced bowlers there. There is a huge difference between experienced and inexperienced bowlers. Every IPL team has an inexperienced bowler whom you can target as a batter. You don’t get that in the World Cup, and it’s not that he hasn’t been given opportunities in a World Cup.”
Irfan Pathan
Karthik was part of India’s team for the 2022 T20 World Cup. He only scored 14 runs in three innings, at an average of 4.67, and was replaced by Rishabh Pant for the Men in Blue’s remaining two matches.