‘Want to win T20 World Cup, pick a guy in form’: Former pacer reveals importance of Karthik in Team India

Dinesh Karthik has been the center of all the discussions after India’s series-level win against South Africa in Rajkot. He scored his maiden half-century in the shortest format of the game, playing a big part in securing an 82-run win against the Proteas. His innings hit 9 fours and 2 sixes, reaching the milestone in 26 balls.

Former South Africa spearhead Dale Steyn has heaped praise on the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman, saying that Karthik has shown that he is a class player.

During a conversation with ESPN Cricinfo, the former pacer said that if Dinesh Karthik continues his stellar form, he will be the first player to make it to the Indian squad for T20Is. World Cup 2022.

“DK has come out every time and shown what a class player he is. If you want to win the World Cup, you want to pick someone who is in form. There are people who will choose the prestige of the team, but DK is in such stupendous form, if he continues this form, he is going to be one of the first names written on the plane. India Tour for the World Cup later this year,” Steyn said on ESPN Cricinfo.

Karthik is having a great time on the field this year. He scored more than 300 runs in IPL 2022 for RCB, playing the role of a finisher. On the back of an impressive season, he returned to the Indian T20I squad after a hiatus of more than three years.

Steyn further said that Karthik is getting better and better with every game and is understanding his game very well.

“DK is in great form. This year, he is getting better and better. He has a wicketkeeper mentality, he reads the game really well, he knows and understands what the bowlers are trying to do and he backs it up with very good skills. He sweeps, sweeps, reverses the laps. They are shots that are being played by someone who reads and understands the game, understands what the bowler is going to do before he runs to bowl,” Steyn said.

“He does it very well, he strikes the first and last ball of the over, he puts the bowlers under pressure on the first ball, and then guys, he doesn’t really have an answer, ” They said.

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