West Indies vs India: The ultimate goal is to do well in the T20 World Cup, says Dinesh Karthik
India Today
WI vs IND, 1st T20I: Dinesh Karthik scored 41 runs off 19 balls and helped India beat West Indies by 67 runs at the Brian Lata
Veteran wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik said that he is enjoying himself thoroughly in the current Indian setup. The seasoned campaigner credited head coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit Sharma for bringing in calmness in the team environment.
Karthik made his comeback to the Indian team after almost three years and has already played some knocks of substance. The right-hander notched his maiden T20I half-century against South Africa, after which he has retained his spot in the team.
On Friday, July 29, Karthik became the Player of the Match after India won the first T20I against the West Indies by 67 runs at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. Batting at No.7, Karthik scored an unbeaten 19-ball 41 with the help of four fours and two sixes.
The Tamil Nadu-born Karthik also said that India are formulating their plans, keeping in mind the T20 World Cup later this year in Australia.
After India took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, Karthik was interviewed by his teammate, Ravi Ashwin. The video was uploaded on the official Twitter handle of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
“I think it’s a very very different team. I must admit that I am really enjoying myself in this setup. The kind of calmness that seems to be around, a lot of credit should go to the coach and captain. These are all small tick-boxes that we need to have at this stage of the game. But obviously, the ultimate goal is to do well in the World Cup,” Karthik was quoted as saying.
Karthik lost his place in the Indian team after the 2019 World Cup semi-final. But following a stupendous campaign for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Karthik infused life into his international career.