Karthik getting ‘older and better’, credits Dravid for comeback vs SA

Dinesh Karthik, after slamming his maiden T20I half-century on Friday, said that he thinking better. The 37-year-old’s 55 off 27 balls helped India defeat South Africa by 82 runs at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot. The five-match series is now tied at 2-2. 

Karthik came in to bat when India were struggling at 81/4. The top order was dismissed and Hardik Pandya was trying to go big at the other end. He and the Gujarat Titans skipper stitched a 65-run stand and helped the team post 169 runs. 

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The RCB player hit two sixes and nine boundaries, reaching his first T20I half-century since 2006 in 25 balls. He is now the oldest Indian to hit a fifty in the 20-over format. 

When asked how he feels coming back after 16 years, Dinesh Karthik said, “I feel old for a start, but apart from that it feels good to play the first ever T20 for India. Complete different generations. I read somewhere that out of both those teams 21 have retired out of the 22 have retired. So it feels good that I am alive and kicking and playing some cricket here.”

The finisher had last player a T20I more than three years ago in February 2019. He was selected for the South Africa series after a brilliant show in IPL 2022, where he made 330 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 183.33.

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“I am feeling very secure in this setup. In the last game things didn’t go according to plan, but I went and expressed myself today. I think DK is thinking a little better. He is able to assess situations better and that comes with practice. Credit to my coach,” he said after the game. 

The player of the match further added that he is looking forward to play in Bangalore. 

“Bangalore is a home ground for me. I haven’t played with RCB, but have played a lot over there. It is good to see a bilateral series going down to the final match. To see the pressure being absorbed in the third and fourth games was something we would relish. Credit to Rahul Dravid; there is a certain sense of calmness. The dressing room is a calm place right now. “