India head coach Rahul Dravid spoke about Dinesh Karthik’s role in the team and the importance of resting senior players, ahead of the team’s five-match home T20I series against South Africa.
After the completion of an action packed IPL 2022, India’s international calendar kicks off with the five-match home T20I series against South Africa, beginning June 9 in Delhi. The series presents a great opportunity for a number of players to put a selection claim for the T20 World Cup 2022, which will be held in Australia in October-November.
Dinesh Karthik, who last represented India during their 2019 World Cup semi-final defeat to New Zealand in Manchester, has now made a comeback to the setup on the back of his brilliance in the IPL recently.
Karthik showcased exemplary finishing skills for the Royal Challengers Bangalore during their run to the playoffs in the tournament, scoring 330 runs at 55, while maintaining an excellent strike-rate of 183.33, hitting 22 sixes through the competition.
Dinesh Karthik has scored 197 runs at 12.96 RPO while being dismissed only once in IPL 2022. Over 79% of his runs have come through boundaries.
📝 @mainlycricket with more on the Miracle Man, @DineshKarthik#RCB #IPL2022https://t.co/uo8srxPzPc
— CricXtasy (@CricXtasy) April 19, 2022
Rahul Dravid, India’s head coach, expects the wicket-keeper batter to play a similar role for the Indian side.
“With Dinesh, it is clear with the role. At the backend of the game, he can make a difference. That’s why he has been picked, to bat in those positions and deliver for India as well,” Dravid said at the press conference on Tuesday, June 7.
With an action packed calendar and an England tour ahead featuring the all-important Edgbaston Test, India have rested most of their senior players, including skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah among others for the South Africa T20Is.
KL Rahul, who’s set to lead the side, is one of the three common players in both squads, alongside Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer.
Dravid stated that it was imperative to give timely rest to players in a challenging cricketing schedule, when questioned about regular captain Rohit’s unavailability.
“Rohit is our all-format player. It would be unwise to expect everyone to be available all the time. We want them to be fit and fresh as well. There would be times where we would have to rest our big players.”
India are currently on a 12-match winning streak in the format, and are one victory away on creating a world-record.
