Cricket

Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik, who recently announced his retirement from all formats of the game, has embarked on a new chapter in his career as the batting coach and mentor of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Karthik will be responsible for guiding the team's batsmen and sharing his vast experience and knowledge.Karthik's appointment comes after he announced his retirement on his birthday, bringing an end to a successful playing career. He was an integral part of RCB in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he played a crucial role as a finisher. In the previous IPL season, he witnessed RCB's remarkable turnaround, as the team reached the playoffs despite losing seven of their first eight matches. However, their journey ended in the Eliminator against Rajasthan Royals.Throughout his IPL career, Karthik has represented six different teams, including Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions, Kolkata Knight Riders, and RCB. He also captained KKR for a period.Karthik's most significant contribution came in IPL 2022 for RCB, which earned him a recall to the Indian team. He was part of India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2022 but was later dropped.Karthik made his international debut in 2004 and has scored one century in Tests. He was also a member of India's victorious T20 World Cup team in 2007.

The Indian cricket team's triumphant march in the T20 World Cup 2024 reached its zenith on Thursday as they secured a berth in the title clash against South Africa. The semi-final victory against England was a testament to India's all-round brilliance, with Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya shining with the bat and the spinners dominating with the ball.Amidst the jubilation, wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant emerged as a standout performer, earning the coveted Best Fielder of the Match award. The honor was bestowed upon him by none other than veteran wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik, who recently bid farewell to the game.Karthik's presence in the dressing room to present the award was a poignant moment, especially given Pant's remarkable journey. Just six months ago, his career was in jeopardy following a horrific car accident. However, his resilience and determination have seen him return to the field with renewed vigor."There are many stories in sport, but there are not many better than the person I am giving the medal to," Karthik said in a heartfelt speech. "What he's gone through a year ago, I think six months ago, no one expected him to be in this team, not many would have expected him to play this sport this early, but for him to come out here and play the way he has done, all are very happy for him and he has made millions happy by just being on the field - Rishabh Pant."While neither Pant nor Virat Kohli have reached the heights expected of them in this tournament, they have one more opportunity to prove their worth and help India break its ICC trophy drought. The summit clash against South Africa on Saturday promises to be a thrilling encounter, with India hoping to cap off their impressive campaign with a resounding victory.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign got off to a disastrous start with a shock Super Over defeat to USA, leaving captain Babar Azam visibly shaken and disappointed. Azam admitted that his team had underestimated their opponents, leading to a lackluster performance across all aspects of the game.Azam's post-match comments reflected the collective disappointment and frustration within the Pakistani camp. He acknowledged that the team's complacency had cost them dearly in a crucial tournament opener. However, his public criticism of his players did not go well with former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik.Karthik believes that a skipper should find ways to support his players, even in the face of adversity. He argued that Azam's comments in the press conference would undoubtedly demoralize the players ahead of their high-octane encounter against arch-rivals India on Sunday."As a leader, you need to find a way to be diplomatic in press conferences, somehow find a way to back your players," Karthik told Cricbuzz. "Inside the four walls of the dressing room, you can say what you want and have a go at a few people, but you need to find a way to back your players."Karthik pointed out that Azam's comments in the press conference would undoubtedly demoralize the players ahead of their high-octane encounter against arch-rivals India on Sunday."I fear Pakistan players reading it, which they will be, will feel he's 'letting us down'," Karthik said. "The way he's conducted himself at the field, having a go after the boundaries or his shoulders dropping, isn't a sign of a good leader."Karthik believes that Azam needs to find a way to find body language to suggest he's fine with whatever's happening, and they can come around. "Yes, showing disappointment is fine, but there's a way to show it where the players don't get even more nervous than they already are," he said.

Gautam Gambhir, known for his stoic demeanor, was recently caught in a rare moment of laughter as former teammate Dinesh Karthik shared a hilarious anecdote from their playing days. In a viral clip, Karthik labeled Gambhir the "laziest athlete" he had ever encountered, recounting an incident that left the entire panel in stitches.During an interaction with former India stalwarts, Karthik recalled Gambhir's extreme laziness, stating that he would refuse to change a song on the music player because he didn't want to reach for the fast forward button. The incident that truly sent the panel into fits of laughter involved Gambhir asking Karthik to change the TV channel in his own room."I was walking past his room, and he was lying down on his bed," Karthik reminisced. "He said, 'DK, come here, change the channel for me please.'""You can be lazy, but that's a bit too much," Karthik said, laughing. "He could've walked two steps, but he wasn't even willing to change the TV channel.""Of all the people I have seen in my life, he is by far the laziest athlete," Karthik concluded.Gambhir and Karthik were part of the victorious 2007 T20 World Cup team, with Gambhir playing a pivotal role in the final against Pakistan. Now, after guiding the Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title in 2024 as mentor, Gambhir has emerged as a potential candidate for the role of India's head coach after the 2024 T20 World Cup.Gambhir has expressed his willingness to take on the role, stating that there is "no bigger honor" than coaching the Indian national cricket team.

Dinesh Karthik, the veteran wicketkeeper-batter, has bid farewell to his illustrious playing career. The 39-year-old, who last represented India in the 2022 T20 World Cup, announced his retirement on his birthday, bringing an end to a journey that began in 2002-03.Karthik's career has been marked by both highs and lows. He made his international debut in 2004 and went on to play 26 Tests, 94 ODIs, and 32 T20Is for India. While he was never a regular in the Test team, he made significant contributions in the shorter formats, particularly in T20 cricket.In the IPL, Karthik has been a mainstay since its inception in 2008. He has represented six different franchises, including Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. With 4816 runs in 256 matches, he is one of the most successful batters in IPL history.Karthik's wicketkeeping skills have also been highly regarded. He is second only to MS Dhoni in overall dismissals (172) and stumpings (36) in the IPL. He has also captained Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket and led Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL for three seasons.Despite his success, Karthik's international career was often overshadowed by the presence of other talented wicketkeeper-batters. However, he remained a valuable member of the Indian team, providing experience and leadership.In recent years, Karthik has focused primarily on domestic cricket and the IPL. He played a key role in Royal Challengers Bangalore's run to the playoffs in IPL 2023, scoring 326 runs in 13 innings.Karthik's retirement marks the end of an era in Indian cricket. He was one of the last remaining players from the generation that won the 2011 World Cup. His contributions to the game will be remembered for years to come.

Dinesh Karthik, the veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batter, has announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) following Royal Challengers Bangalore's exit from the competition in 2024. Karthik, widely regarded as one of the finest Indian finishers in recent times, was once again a top performer for RCB, scoring 326 runs at a strike rate of 187.36.In an exclusive interview with Cricbuzz, Karthik revealed that his decision to retire was primarily driven by mental factors rather than physical limitations. Despite being physically fit to play for "another three years," Karthik admitted that he was doubtful about his ability to maintain the mental intensity required for such long tournaments."I think I am physically very much prepared to play for another three years. Especially with the Impact Player rule, it becomes that much easier. So in terms of playing the sport, easily I think I could've pushed for another cycle," Karthik said. "I don't have too many issues in my life. Touch wood, I have never missed a game because of an injury through my three decades. I've been blessed that way. I was never worried about my body or my fitness. It was all about the mental side of things, whether I'll be able to push as much in the lead-up to the tournament, whether if I don't play as many matches, will I be okay with it."Karthik further explained that he felt he was no longer able to push himself mentally to the same extent as before. The fact that he was unlikely to be selected for the Indian cricket team again also contributed to his decision."I am a big believer of whatever I look to do, I try to give it 100% commitment and do whatever I can to be the best in that. And I thought from hereon for me to play X amount of matches is going to be hard. Mentally pushing myself for so long in terms of doing everything in the lead-up, even if I falter a little bit I wouldn't be... even though from the outside people wouldn't know, but internally I would find it very hard and I would be living with guilt. I don't want that," he added."Taking all that into account, I thought this is the time [to retire]. And most importantly, the fact that no matter what I do, I cannot play for India again was very evident. So it was the last nail in the coffin."Karthik's retirement marks the end of an illustrious IPL career that spanned 16 seasons and saw him represent six different franchises. He played a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders' two IPL title triumphs in 2012 and 2014 and was also a member of the Mumbai Indians team that won the tournament in 2015.

Virat Kohli's remarkable turnaround in IPL 2024, culminating in the Orange Cap, was fueled by the criticism surrounding his strike rate. His teammate, Dinesh Karthik, witnessed firsthand Kohli's transformation into a legendary figure.Kohli's initial struggles in the tournament sparked questions from experts like Simon Doull, igniting a fire within him. Karthik believes Kohli thrives on proving people wrong, using their doubts as motivation."He is someone who wants to hold onto certain things to do well," Karthik said. "He loves proving people wrong. It fuels his passion."Despite RCB's lack of IPL titles, Kohli has remained loyal to the franchise. Karthik credits Kohli's intimidating presence and leadership for the team's success."It's not happening without that man," Karthik said. "The way he pushes fielders, the intensity he carries... I doff my hat to him."Doull, who initially questioned Kohli's strike rate, expressed surprise at the extreme reactions he received, including death threats. He emphasized that his comments were purely from a cricketing perspective."I see a phenomenal player who should be dominating more," Doull explained. "I felt at times he was afraid to get out."Karthik urged fans to distinguish between personal attacks and legitimate cricket analysis."Indian fans should find out the difference between people taking him personally and people talking about the cricketing side of him," Karthik said. "I think Virat appreciates it if you can find a difference."Kohli's hunger for success and ability to thrive under pressure have made him an iconic figure in world cricket. His determination to prove his critics wrong has once again propelled him to the pinnacle of batting excellence.

Gautam Gambhir, the former India opener, is widely expected to be appointed as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team, replacing Rahul Dravid. While an official announcement is yet to be made, experts believe that Gambhir possesses the qualities necessary to lead the team to success.Gambhir's recent success as a mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has further enhanced his credentials. Under his guidance, KKR won the IPL title in 2024, adding to his previous triumphs as captain in 2012 and 2014.Former wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, who retired after IPL 2024, praised Gambhir's coaching abilities. "He has been at the helm, taken all the decisions (for KKR), be it sending (Sunil) Narine opening or getting Mitchell Starc in the auction," said Karthik. "He has that fire in him."Gambhir's track record as a player and coach reflects his winning mentality. He was part of the Indian team that won the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup. Karthik believes that Gambhir's experience and leadership qualities would be invaluable to the Indian team."India would do very well under him because I feel he has that fire that is required," said Karthik. "He will infuse that winning culture he has infused here (at KKR)."Former New Zealand pace bowler Simon Doull also endorsed Gambhir's potential as India coach. "He is a tough character, but I think he is very fair character and I think he'll do a great job if he were to take over," said Doull.Gambhir's tenure as India coach is expected to begin after the T20 World Cup in June. If appointed, he will be tasked with guiding the team to success in major tournaments, including the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Dinesh Karthik, the former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman, recently announced his retirement from all forms of cricket after Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) exit from IPL 2024. As he reflects on his illustrious career, Karthik has shared some amusing anecdotes involving on-field banter with his India teammates during his IPL days.One of the most memorable exchanges occurred with Virat Kohli, the former RCB captain. "Every time I played against RCB and Virat caught my catch, 'Ben Stokes' came out of his mouth for sure," Karthik recalled in an interview with Cricbuzz. "But that was a send-off."Karthik also revealed a sledging incident with Hardik Pandya, the current Mumbai Indians skipper. "Hardik Pandya sledged me saying 'abhi legspinner aaya, iska thank you hi hai' (a legspinner will come and it is Thank You time]. Then I had to play a couple of shots and then he was like 'theek hai, thoda improve hogaya lag raha hai' (okay, looks like he has improved a little]. That was good. He's a good friend. He was also like 'Commentator banke bhi thoda kaam kar raha hai' (Even after becoming a commentator he's working on his game) That was fun."Karthik, who played 257 IPL matches and 60 T20Is, also mentioned a playful comment from Rohit Sharma, the former Mumbai Indians captain. "Rohit this year taunting me... unnecessarily giving me hopes," he said, referring to Sharma's "isko World Cup khelna hai" (he wants to play in the World Cup) remark.Besides his IPL career, Karthik represented India in 26 Tests, 94 ODIs, and 60 T20Is. He is also known for his insightful commentary, which has added a new dimension to his cricketing journey.