Indian wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik has made a comeback to India’s T20I team after more than three years. He was included in the playing XI for the first T20I against South Africa at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in Delhi.
Dinesh Karthik had last played for India against Australia at Bengaluru in 2019. The 37-year-old earned a comeback call after his brilliant Indian Premier League performance. Playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2022 edition, Karthik batted in the lower middle-order. He played the finisher’s role to perfection.
In sixteen matches, the right-handed batter scored 330 runs at an average of 55 and a strike rate of 183.33. Indian skipper Rishabh Pant confirmed Karthik’s inclusion in the first T20I match against South Africa. The veteran batter is likely to bat in the middle order for India.
A look at the Playing XI for #INDvSA
Live – https://t.co/YOoyTQmu1p #INDvSA @Paytm pic.twitter.com/YiAjMS6VXK
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 9, 2022
Let’s take a look at how fans reacted to Dinesh Karthik’s comeback:
.@DineshKarthik returning to the Indian dressing room tonight 😄 #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/HsOFdi164F
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) June 9, 2022
What a ride it has been for @DineshKarthik.
That's why they say "Never stop dreaming"_ welcome back DK, you truly deserve it sir. Go well!👏🏻
Also special credit goes to @RCBTweets team management and thinktank.🙏🏻#IndvsSA #DineshKarthik pic.twitter.com/qm2XofWHB5— Chitradeep Saha (@ChitradeepSaha3) June 9, 2022
DK 🇮🇳
📸: @BCCI | #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/yeNhYSN7OX
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) June 9, 2022
DK IS BACK! That’s it, that’s the tweet. ✍️#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #TeamIndia #ನಮ್ಮRCB #INDvSA
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) June 9, 2022
What a ride it has been for Dinesh Karthik, dropped from wrong format after 2019 World Cup, grinded so hard in domestics, won trophies for Tamil Nadu, did commentary for Sky in the last summer then after having a great IPL 2022 & now, making his return to ICT after 3 long years.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 9, 2022
16yrs back Team India played its First T20 International against SA..
DK played then as a Batsman & won MOM Award, today he is playing again as a Batsman and also the only active Player amongst the two teams..
Hope DK makes it big today once again..#INDvSA @DineshKarthik pic.twitter.com/TRTaoJK77j— Harshal (@harshalfF) June 9, 2022
DK is Back , awesome inspiration and date to live today.#DK #dineshkarthik #RishabhPant #Cricket #CricketTwitter
— Sports Selfie🙆♂️ (@Aadee0017) June 9, 2022
Dinesh Karthik is truly the "KING of Comebacks"!!! 👑
DK & #TeamIndia is a Never-Ending Love Story!❤
2004 – 2022.. still going super strong!💪
Good things always happen to Good people. DK is one of the nicest guys going around in cricket 🏏#DineshKarthik #INDvSA #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/BIzIapbQCO
— THE ROCKSTAR (@VivJonty) June 9, 2022
As a fan of dk I really gave up the hope of his come back in national team, but the way he proved me and all of us wrong is just clap worthy stuff.
Irrespective of any result whether he fails or succeed, his life motivational journey deserves a biopic.#DineshKarthik #INDvSA— सोनी🇮🇳 (@itsSoni_) June 9, 2022
Ishan Kishan gives India a flying start
The South African skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bat first. Tristian Stubbs made his debut for the South African team, while Wayne Parnell made his comeback. India included Dinesh Karthik in the middle order along with Hardik Pandya and skipper Rishabh Pant.
Indian openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan walked out to bat in the first inning. The duo got India off to a good start scoring 57 runs in around 6 overs. However, their partnership was broken by Wayne Parnell in the seventh over.
Gaikwad was dismissed for 23 runs off 15 balls. Ishan Kishan continued to take on the opposition from the other end. He slammed 76 runs off 48 balls, including eleven boundaries and three sixes. After his dismissal, Rishabh Pant joined Shreyas Iyer at the crease. Shreyas Iyer is unbeaten on 33 off 20 balls. The Indian team is 145 for two-loss in fourteen overs.
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