IPL 2024: ‘I’ll do everything I can to be on that flight to the T20 World Cup’ – Dinesh Karthik

India’s veteran wicket-keeper bat Dinesh Karthik is not giving up on his dream to represent the national team in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Karthik, who is representing RCB in the ongoing IPL 2024, has put himself in contention.

The right-hander has scored 226 runs in six innings of the ongoing season at an average of 75.33 and a blistering strike rate of 205.45. The veteran batter has added the finishing touches for the franchise, who have savored a solitary win in seven games.

Meanwhile, Karthik was added to the 2022 T20 World Cup squad on the back of an impressive run in IPL 2022. Karthik scored 330 runs in 16 matches for RCB at a whirlwind strike rate of 183.33 in the 15th season but could not replicate the same show in Australia.

Furthermore, India has a lot of wicket-keeping options in Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan, who all are doing well in IPL 2024 and it will be interesting to note the selectors’ call. India’s T20 World Cup selection is expected in the last week of April.

“At this stage in my life, it would be the greatest feeling for me to represent India,” Karthik said on the eve of RCB’s game against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. “I am very, very keen to do so. There is nothing bigger in my life other than representing India in this T20 World Cup.

“I also feel there are three very, very stable, honest people who are at the helm to decide what should be the best Indian team for the World Cup — Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar. And I am completely with them. I respect any decision that they take. But all I can say is I’m 100 percent ready, and I’ll do everything I can to be on that flight to the World Cup.”

Karthik added it is crucial for him to time the ball to perfection to get rewards for his shots. The batter from Tamil Nadu said he tries to prepare in the best possible manner in the practice sessions.

“These days as a player, you need to understand your strengths,” he said. “I’m not a [Andre] Russell or a [Kieron] Pollard who can just mishit a ball and get a six for it. So, I need to understand how I can beat gaps and what sort of balls I can hit for boundaries. And I realised there was a certain pattern in which bowlers were bowling to me, so I needed to try and work out a solution for that.

“Hence, when I practice, I try and understand, okay, if this is what they’re going to bowl at me, how am I going to get a boundary, visualising a field that is going to be in place for me. So, I worked backwards, and that’s helped me really learn a couple of shots more, at the back end. It’s been great to go out there and express myself, and it’s been thoroughly enjoyable to do what I’m doing for RCB as a finisher.”

RCB needs 223 runs to win against KKR.