Dinesh Karthik has presented strong contention for a spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad, for Australia 2022, by putting up some strong performances with the bat and gloves in IPL 2022. The 36-year-old has scored 197 runs in six matches this season at a whopping strike rate of more than 209. He has been dismissed only once. 

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Karthik, against Delhi Capitals, affected his 150th dismissal, as a wicketkeeper, in the IPL. He is only the second glovesman to achieve this feat. The first one was MS Dhoni. 

The RCB wicketkeeper reached the landmark 150th dismissal when he took a sharp catch off Josh Hazlewood’s bowling to dismiss Delhi Capitals’ Rovman Powell. In the same match, Karthik hit 66 runs in 34 balls with the help of five boundaries and as many maximums to script a 16-run win for his side. Glenn Maxwell too played a fine 55-run knock. 

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MS Dhoni, who has played for the Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Super Giants in the IPL, has 164 dismissals against his name. He had in 2021 affected his 150th dismissal in the IPL, which included 111 catches and 39 stumpings. 

Karthik has played 219 IPL matches till date. He has represented the likes of Mumbai Indians (MI), PBKS, RCB (in 2015), KKR, Gujarat Lions (GL) and the Delhi Daredevils (DD) who are now known as Delhi Capitals (DC).

In a video posted on IPL’s official website, during a conversation with former skipper Virat Kohli, he  said that he was given the role of a finisher from day one.

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“I think there is a small term goal and a bigger vision as well. The small term goal is obviously to do very well for RCB, credit to the RCB backroom staff. The day I got picked up for RCB, Sanjay Bangar Bhai called me and told me DK you would be playing the finisher role. We have lost out on AB so we cannot replace him with anybody who is half as good as him. So, we are going to have 2-3 guys who can do that role because he is that good. So, then I took it on myself that okay this is what I need to do,” Karthik told Kohli.

RCB will face the Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday.