When there is so much competition, you have to keep improving, reveals Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik has enjoyed a topsy-turvy 2018 so far which seen him grab the headlines for his last-ball six in the Nidahas Trophy final against Bangladesh in March. He was also recalled to the Test team for the one-off Test match against Afghanistan and travelled to England as well, but was dropped after two games. After the Asia Cup earlier this year, Karthik has found himself on the outskirts of the Indian ODI team as well.

Karthik, who will be in line to play for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy match against Kerala for the first time this season, is well aware of his situation in the Indian team. With the ever-increasing competition in the national setup, the 33-year old batsman asserts that it was important to keep improving on a daily basis in order to be in peak form. 

"When there is so much competition, you have to keep improving your skill to be part of the set-up. That’s what it pushes you to do. Trying to finish games off is one aspect I have been working on. I have been putting myself in situations where I can practise that. Things have been coming out well in those kinds of tense situations. It’s a very important aspect of batting in limited-overs cricket and it’s something I am focusing on,” Karthik said in an interview to TOI.

The 2019 ICC ODI World Cup in England & Wales is just six months away and the KKR captain acknowledged that it was make or break time for him to fight for a spot in the ODI team. The Chennai-born cricketer is well aware that he will have to make the most of all the chances that come his way in the next 2-3 months.

“I am always looking for any opportunity that comes to me. Selection is not in my hands. My job is to keep doing well in whatever matches I get. I will be looking to do that ahead of the World Cup,” Karthik added.