India vs Australia | Selectors look at Dinesh Karthik as a T20 batsman, feels Sanjay Manjrekar
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Sanjay Manjrekar has opined that the selectors are looking at Dinesh Karthik as a T20 specialist in the Indian team. The former cricketer turned commentator also mentioned that the Tamil Nadu batsman has done well in recent days in the limited chances that he has been given with the team.
The All India Senior Selection Committee named two different teams for the upcoming five-match ODI series against Australia and Dinesh Karthik didn’t find a place in the side. Karthik ended with an unbeaten 33 in the last T20I against the Kiwis and in the third ODI, he had managed an unbeaten 38 off an equal number of deliveries.
The news of Karthik missing out in the upcoming home series has surprised many as the MSK Prasad-led committee has gone with Rishabh Pant for the 50-over format. Amidst this, Manjrekar has stated the team management has been looking at the Kolkata Knight Riders captain only as a T20 specialist with his ODI career almost over.
"His fans will feel sorry because with the opportunity he has got, he has done as well as he could but I feel with this selection or non-selection of Karthik, India have told everyone that we look at Karthik as a T20 batsman and his 50-over future is over as far as we are concerned," said Manjrekar in conversation with ESPNCricinfo.
Karthik, however, has proven his batting capabilities in the ODIs in the last few games. Since 2017, he has played 20 matches in the national side and has scored 425 runs at an average of more than 47 under his belt. Manjrekar has underlined the fact that he has been
"He has done well in the opportunities he has got, but he has been around for a long time and the selectors are thinking just like me - World Cup, big stage, big match, 50-overs cricket, Dinesh Karthik. Ambati Rayudu by playing that innings in New Zealand when he put India on the track of recovery and got the team to get a big score. Dinesh Karthik hasn't played that kind of an innings. He has mostly played the role of a finisher. So this is where the numbers are disregarded by the selectors, the captain, the management and they are thinking temperamentally so far what we have seen of Karthik, is he someone who will excite us a 50-overs cricket at World Cup and they have said no and I don't grudge them for that,” explained Manjrekar.
"Both have got distinct weaknesses in the field with Dhoni keeping wickets. Karthik is actually little better than Pant who is a liability in the field. But because of Pant's recent exploits, he has given a sort of hope. But I am not a big supporter of Pant as a batsman because he still hasn't set the stage on fire in 50-overs cricket and so you play him no matter what,” he added.
