Dinesh Karthik hopeful of playing T20Is again for India: The fire is still burning very brightly
India Today
Dinesh Karthik, who has not played international cricket since the 2019 World Cup, said he has not given up on his dreams to play for India again and that he is targeting the finisher's role in T20Is.
36-year-old India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has said he is not at all thinking about retirement and that the fire to represent India again is burning bright in his belly. Karthik, who last played for India at the 2019 World Cup, said he is still hopeful of returning to the T20I set-up as a finisher.
Dinesh Karthik, who has played 26 Tests, 94 ODIs and 32 T20Is, has been playing domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL) on a regular basis, has also been involved in commentary commitments in the recent past. Karthik was part of Tamil Nadu's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy-winning team and the state team that reached the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 50-over tournament.
Karthik had hit a 103-ball 116 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final in December last year, showcasing that he is still capable of getting the big runs at the crunch moment.
Even as the India selectors are keen on looking into the future, Karthik is confident that he can knock on the doors and get a look in.
"I genuinely harbour the ambition of playing for the country again and I want to do everything possible, that is my ultimate goal. I train and practice, everything I do right now is working towards that goal. The next three years for me is about playing the sport and doing everything I can. I enjoy playing the sport," Karthik told news agency ANi.
"That is why I go and play Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare for Tamil Nadu. The kind of success we have had as a state team has been phenomenal and me being a part of that journey is something I have thoroughly enjoyed.
"My main aim is to play for the country again, especially the T20 format. T20 is something, the fire is still burning very brightly," added the wicketkeeper-batter who has played 32 T20Is for India," he added.
