New Delhi:
Dinesh Karthik was threadlike close to recreating the heroics of Nidahas Trophy Final in the last encounter of the T20 series against New Zealand. India was chasing a mammoth total of 213 and lost by the slightest of margins of 4 runs. Needing 16 runs of the last over, Karthik had denied a single to Krunal Pandya as he backed himself to hit a six. However, as it turned out to be, Karthik couldn’t replicate his months’ back performance, eventually resulting in a loss.
Looking back to the game, Karthik told PTI, "I think Krunal and I batted really well from that situation (145/6). We were able to bring the match down to a place where the bowlers were under pressure. We backed ourselves to do the job.”
Krunal Pandya once again showed his skills as he smashed 26 runs off just 13 deliveries at an astonishing strike-rate of 200.
Karthik went on saying that a player needs to trust his abilities and situation as these happen in the game of cricket.
"As a middle-order batsman, a lot of times you have to trust your ability to play those big shots under pressure. It is also important to trust your partner at that time. It did not come off on that occasion but those things happen in the game of cricket," he said.
The loss against New Zealand made it to the headlines more because Karthik denying the single to in-form Krunal Pandya than anything else. Karthik said he genuinely believed that he could hit a six.
“At that stage (after refusing the single), I genuinely believed that I could hit a six”
Dinesh Karthik’s decent run with the bat will once again give him an opportunity against Australia to confirm his tickets to England for the forthcoming World Cup. Karthik was a part of 2017 ICC Champions Trophy and would be looking to forward for this opportunity.
If he eventually makes the cut, it will be is second after the 2007 World Cup. Karthik made his International debut 15 years ago but has managed to play only 26 Tests, 91 ODIs and 30 T20s.
