“All about the mental side of things” – Dinesh Karthik reveals why he retired from IPL

India’s veteran wicket-keeper bat Dinesh Karthik revealed he decided to retire from IPL keeping in mind the mental side of things. Karthik said he is in a good physical state but he is not ready to keep going mentally at the top level.

Karthik made his last appearance in the IPL against Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator. However, the wicket-keeper bat hasn’t yet retired from International cricket but he is unlikely to get his chances with India having players like KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, and Ishan Kishan, who can take the gloves.

Meanwhile, Karthik scored 4842 runs in 257 IPL matches at an average of 26.32 and a strike rate of 135.36. The right-hander from Tamil Nadu scored 326 runs in 13 innings at an average of 36.22 and a blistering strike rate of 187.35 in IPL 2024.

Dinesh Karthik said while talking to Cricbuzz, “I think I am physically very much prepared to play for another three years. Especially with the Impact Player rule, it becomes that much easier. Touch wood, I have never missed a game because of an injury through my three decades. I’ve been blessed that way. I was never worried about my body or my fitness.”

“It was all about the mental side of things, whether I’ll be able to push as much in the lead-up to the tournament, whether if I don’t play as many matches, will I be okay with it,” he added.

Karthik had a great run in IPL 2022 and thus he was picked in India’s T20 World Cup squad. But he could not replicate the same form in IPL 2023 however he was motivated to do well in the recently concluded season.

“I am internally very, very motivated. Intrinsically, extremely motivated and I’ve lived by the mantra that if you are the best, no one can stop you. I just believed if I get one chance, I should make the most of it. I never cribbed. I was always thinking like I got a chance but I missed it. I got a tournament here, but I probably could have done better in this match. And that kept me going,” he said.

The veteran added that the retirement feeling is yet to sunk in as he has been continuously playing at the top level.

“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. There’s lots happening in the house, there’s a couple of weddings and all so I’ve been pretty busy with that. It’s a tad bit emotional, a tad bit relief. In a way, I was mentally prepared for whenever it had to happen. But I was so much more prepared for 18th May.”

Karthik will perform the commentary duties in the upcoming T20 World Cup.