Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik reflected on how MS Dhoni’s entry into international cricket affected his own career. The veteran admitted that he often felt like a “chameleon,” taking on various roles just to secure a place in the Indian side after Dhoni’s debut.
Karthik was once seen as India’s long-term wicketkeeper, but selectors backed Dhoni despite his slow start. While Karthik’s ODI chances between 2004 and 2010 were limited, Dhoni rose to become one of the game’s finest finishers and eventually captained India across formats.
Speaking at India Today’s Conclave South 2025, the 40-year-old recalled the difficulties of holding down a spot during Dhoni’s rise, admitting that he placed immense pressure on himself in the process. He explained, as quoted by India Today:
“When someone like that comes along, you need to look inward and ask yourself: What can I do to bring out the best version of myself? So I became a bit like a chameleon. If there was an opening slot available, I’d go back to Tamil Nadu and ask, Sir, can I open? I’d score runs as an opener just to find a place in the team.”
“Similarly, if there was a vacancy in the middle order for India, I’d request to bat there — always looking for ways to break into the side. But my real challenge was holding on to that spot. I put so much pressure on myself that, at times, I didn’t do justice to what was really needed.”
“Some Even Compared Him To Gary Sobers”- Karthik On Dhoni’s Early Impact
Dinesh Karthik also recalled the buzz around MS Dhoni’s name ahead of his international debut, noting that he introduced a brand of power-hitting that hadn’t been witnessed before. He remarked:
“I hadn’t seen him play much. But during that A series in Kenya, everyone was talking about one player, because he brought something new. The power with which he hit the ball was something people said they hadn’t seen before.”
“Some were even comparing him to Gary Sobers, known for those massive sixes. MS Dhoni had a very different technique, but he was hitting the ball as hard as anyone people had ever witnessed. That was the buzz at the time.”
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