Former Indian cricket team wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik snubbed both Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul while picking the top choices for cricketers who can succeed Rohit Sharma as the ‘all-format captain’. Instead, he opted for the two youngsters – Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant – as his options. Rohit remains the ODI and Test captain but following his retirement from the shortest format of the sport, Suryakumar Yadav piped Hardik Pandya to become the T20I captain. However, BCCI traditionally prefers to have an all-format captain and Karthik gave his reasons behind picking the two stars.

“Two players come straight into my mind who are young, who have the potential, and definitely can lead India in all the formats shortly. One Rishabh Pant, two Shubman Gill. Both of them are captains of IPL teams and have captained India. I do think in time, they have the chance to become the all-format captain for India as well,” said Karthik on the ‘HEY CB with DK’ show on Cricbuzz.

Meanwhile, ahead of the Test and ODI series against Bangladesh, star India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal shared his thoughts on the significance of domestic tournaments like the Duleep Trophy and his aspirations for India’s red-ball cricket season.

At just 22, Jaiswal has already made a name for himself with impressive performances on both domestic and international stages. When asked about his approach to domestic tournaments like the Duleep Trophy, he emphasized their importance in his development as a cricketer.

“It’s a great opportunity whenever we have the chance to play the Duleep or Ranji Trophy. I’m really looking forward to that, and I hope I’ll enjoy my game. I’ll try my best,” Jaiswal stated on JioCinemas

His enthusiasm and commitment to these tournaments highlight the critical role they play in honing his skills and preparing him for higher challenges.

As India gears up for the upcoming red-ball season, Jaiswal is well aware of the stakes involved, especially with the World Test Championship (WTC) in sight. He stressed the importance of every match and the need to perform consistently to ensure India remains competitive on the global stage.

“Every match is important because of the World Test Championship. You have to make sure you give your best as every win counts. Any opportunity to play for India is incredible, and representing the country is the biggest motivation that I have,” Jaiswal remarked.

India will be playing a two-match Test and three-game T20I series against Bangladesh at home from September 19 to October 12, in which Bangladesh spinners like Shakib Al Hasan, Taijul Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, and many more could feature.

(With PTI inputs)

The Legends League Cricket, featuring retired swashbucklers like Shikhar Dawan and Dinesh Karthik among others, will return for a third season on September 20, criss-crossing Jodhpur, Surat, and Jammu before finally bringing the high-profile cricketers to Srinagar after close to 40 years. The league will kick off at the Barkatullah Khan Stadium in Jodhpur on September 20. A total of 25 matches will be played among six teams and the last two sides standing will play the final on October 16.

The franchise-based tournament, which features a pool of over 200 players, will have its final at the Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar.

“Legends League Cricket is back for another season and we are very excited to also be playing in Kashmir this season. This is a huge opportunity for the people of Kashmir to come to the stadium and watch live cricketing action for the first time in almost 40 years,” said Raman Raheja, Co-Founder, Legends League Cricket.

“It also presents a unique opportunity for the cricketers to experience the beauty of Kashmir and enjoy the hospitality and love of the wonderful people of Srinagar.” The organisers stated that the league attracted a massive audience of 180 million across India during the previous season, spanning 19 matches.

“With an extended schedule and a star-studded lineup, including the recently retired Dhawan and Karthik, the upcoming season is poised to surpass previous records,” the organisers stated.

In the previous edition held in India, former international stalwarts such as Suresh Raina, Aaron Finch, Martin Guptill, current India head coach Gautam Gambhir, Chris Gayle, Hashim Amla, Ross Taylor, and many others played alongside 110 other legendary cricketers.  The league will kick off in Jodhpur and then make its way to the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat.

The third leg will be played at the Maulana Azad Stadium, Jammu. The players’ auction for the event will be held on Thursday. 

Former India wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik left fans fuming on social media after failing to pick MS Dhoni in his all-time India XI. Issuing a clarification on the blunder, Karthik admitted that he genuinely forgot to add Dhoni. The recently-retired wicket-keeper batter admitted the big error he made in team selection, saying it’s embarrassing that he didn’t add a wicket-keeper to his team despite being a player who has mostly stood behind the stumps himself. Rectifying his mistake, Karthik said that Dhoni is a certain present in his XI, across all formats.

“Bhai log. Bada galti hogaya (Guys I made a big mistake.) Genuinely it was a mistake,” Karthik said in a video on Cricbuzz.

“I realised only when the episode came out. There were so many things happening that when I put this 11, I forgot the wicketkeeper. Luckily Rahul Dravid was there and everybody thought I was going with a part-time wicketkeeper. Bu genuinely I didn’t think Rahul Dravid as a wicketkeeper,. Can you believe being a wicketkeeper, I forgot to have a wicketkeeper? It is a blunder,” said Karthik.

Karthik decided to add Dhoni at the No. 7 spot in his team, calling the Ranchi-born icon one of the greatest players in the game.

“And for me, let’s be clear. Thala Dhoni is a lock in any format, not only in India. I feel he is one of the greatest cricketers to have ever played the game. If I had to redo that team, one change I would do is, Thala Dhoni in at 7. And he will be the captain of any Indian team that is there,” he further said.

Though Karthik didn’t specify which player would make way for Dhoni, it seems like Ravindra Jadeja had to be snubbed to make space for the ‘Thala’.

Dinesh Karthik’s All-Time XI: Rohit Sharma, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Ravindra Jadeja (MS Dhoni the new addition), Ravichandran Ashwin, Anil Kumble, Jasprit Bumrah and Zaheer Khan.

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik believes there is nothing to worry about Virat Kohli’s form in the 2-0 ODI series loss to Sri Lanka, saying life wasn’t easy for rest of the visitors’ batters on pitches aiding spinners to a huge extent. At the R Premadasa Stadium, the Indian batters struggled against Sri Lanka’s spinners, leading to them suffering a bilateral ODI series loss to the hosts’ after 27 years. The Sri Lankan spinners called the shots on the Colombo pitch by scalping 27 out of 30 Indian wickets in three matches.

“It’s been a tough pitch to play spin in this series, let’s admit that first. Be it Virat Kohli, be it Rohit Sharma, or be it anyone else. With the slightly semi-new ball between overs about 8 to 30, it’s been hard work (for batters).

“It’s nothing to worry about. Not too many pitches work that way, but it’s been a tough pitch to play spinners. I’m not going to defend Virat Kohli here, but I can tell you that playing spin was very hard,” said Karthik in a video on Cricbuzz.

He also highlighted the positives for India from the series which they can use in future, especially in build-up to 2025 Champions Trophy. “The biggest positive is the fact that India played all-rounders and bravely attacked. So that is something I really like, that is one. Number two, Riyan Parag, in his limited opportunities, is showing what he can do with the ball, which is again a small plus for us.”

“Other than that, I think Rohit’s batting is itself. The way he starts in powerplay. He is making batting look too easy in the series. Batted beautifully. These were the positives for me from this series.

Karthik also addressed why Indian batters have an issue in playing against spin on slow pitches. “When you first end up playing international cricket, you end up playing a lot more quality fast-bowling. But the truth is, when every team ends up playing three fast-bowlers, and at times, four of them with just one spinner or sometimes two, we play on slow turning pitches, which doesn’t happen too often.

“So, when you come from domestic cricket and go into international cricket, you focus on playing fast-bowling and hence, it is understandable of players losing their quality to play spin bowling over a period of time.”

Karthik signed off by terming what should the IPL mega auction system ahead of 2025 season. “I feel four to five (retentions) is a good number, but one or two Right to Match is also a very good option. But one small change in the Right to Match option is, once the player is bid for and the right to match option is used, I think bidding can still go on.

“If the team which has won the first bid believe they have something in their kitty to bid for that player, in that way, the player will get fair money, and the bidding has to happen between the team which has used the Right to match, and the team which has bid for him until then to get that player.”

File image of Dinesh Karthik© BCCI

Just a week after his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL), Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik has called time on his career entirely. In a post on Saturday, Karthik confirmed the decision on social media, saying “I put my playing days behind me”. Karthik’s final game as a professional cricketer was the IPL 2024 eliminator match against Rajasthan Royals that his team lost. Karthik, the wicket-keeper batter, took off his gloves after. thematch and acknowledged the fans as RCB players went around the stadium thanking the spectators for their support.

Soon a moment to savour for the RCB fans unfolded, Virat Kohli embraced Karthik who seemed to be struggling to fight back his emotions.

As Karthik walked back towards the dressing room, Karthik received a guard of honour from the RCB players. 

While Karthik’s IPL retirement was already confirmed, he announced the decision to quit all forms of cricket as well. 

It’s official

Thanks

DK pic.twitter.com/NGVnxAJMQ3

— DK (@DineshKarthik) June 1, 2024

In his post, Karthik wrote: “I’ve been overwhelmed by the affection, support and love I have received in the last few days. My deepest gratitude and sincere thanks to all the fans who have made this feeling possible.

Having given it plenty of thought for sometime now, I have decided to move on from playing representative cricket. I officially announce my retirement and put my playing days behind me as I square up for the new challenges that lie ahead.

I’d like to thank all my coaches, captains, selectors, teammates and members of the support staff who have made this long journey pleasant and enjoyable. Among the millions that play the sport in our country, I consider myself among the lucky few to have had the chance to represent the nation, and luckier still to have earned the goodwill of so many fans and friends.

My parents have been pillars of strength and support over all these years, and I wouldn’t be what I am without their blessings. I also owe plenty to Dipika, herself a professional sportsperson who often put her career on hold to walk my journey with me.

Of course, to all the fans and followers of our great game, a massive thank you! Cricket and cricketers, wouldn’t be the same without your support and good wishes.”

Earlier, speaking to Cricbuzz, Karthik had said that he had the physical ability to play for another three years but wasn’t mentally ready to continue his career as a professional cricketer.

Dinesh Karthik in action for RCB© AFP

Dinesh Karthik opened up on the times he played against Virat Kohli in IPL.© BCCI/IPL

Former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull has revealed that he has been receiving death threats for his criticism of India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Virat Kohli. While the cricketer-turned-commentator has often labelled Kohli as the greatest batter of his generation, he also doesn’t shy away from criticising him whenever he needs to. As an observer of the game, Doull was one of several former players who had criticised Kohli for his batting strike rate during the initial phase of IPL 2024.

Kohli had also voiced his anger over the criticism of his batting approach, saying that he doesn’t like people to tell him how to construct him, considering that he has been winning games for over a decade.

While RCB’s wait for an IPL title continued, Kohli ended the season as the highest run-getter. He scored 741 runs in 15 matches at an average of 154.7.

During a discussion, Kohli’s RCB teammate Dinesh Karthik suggested that the star batter thrives in such situations as he likes to prove his critics wrong.

“Virat Kohli would like to write a book on how he was this year. He started okay. Thanks to people like Simon (Doull) and a few others who really spurred him on. And you know that side of Virat Kohli. I think that he thrives on that. He is someone who inadvertently holds on to certain things to do well. He loves people proving wrong. Even though he might not come out and say this, it really fuels his passion. He is like a molten lava coming out. He is fiery and you don’t want to be anywhere close to him because you are going to get burnt for sure,” Karthik on Cricbuzz after the IPL 2024 final with Doull also part of the discussion.

Doull emphasised that nobody really cares when he praises Kohli, but a minor criticism of the star batter often leads to him getting death threats from the so called fans

“He’s too good to worry about what if he gets out. He’s too good a player, and that was always my point around him. I said a thousand great things about Virat Kohli, but I say one thing that might be slightly negative or construed to be negative, I get death threats,” Doull pointed out during the same discussion.

Doull further suggested that he has nothing personal against Kohli as he often speaks to him before or after the games.

“It’s never personal. We’ve had great conversations. I’ve interviewed him at tosses, we’ve talked after games, there’s never been an issue. It’s the same thing I said about Babar and talked to him after the game. He also told me that the coach had said that same to him,” he added.

Karthik condemned the death threats against Doull, urging the Indian fans to find the difference between constructive criticism and someone taking personal jibes.

“That’s pretty sad to hear though…You go to basketball, football games and you see pundits speak about the game. I think the Indian fans should really find out the difference between people taking it personally or people talking about his cricketing side. Virat really appreaciates that,” Karthik asserted.

Virat Kohli with Dinesh Karthik during an IPL 2024 match.© Twitter