(Image source from: www.timesnownews.com)
Former Indian Cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar feels that Dinesh Karthick’s One Day International career is over as he was not selected in five match ODI series against Australia in upcoming home series.
As Selection Committee Chairman MSK Prasad announced the squad for Australia series Dinesh Karthick not named in the ODI List.
However, Dinesh Karthick named in the T20 squad.
Sanjay Manjrekar in Conversation with ESPNCricinfo said, “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.”
Dinesh Karthick got limited opportunities in ODI format but he played some crucial knocks in those. He has played 20 matches for India scoring 425 runs at an average of 47.22 since champions Trophy in 2017.
“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,” he said.
Rishabh Pant replaced karthick in the team which was announced by selectors yesterday.
He further added, “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.”
Chief Selector MSK Prasad responded to media on inclusion of Rishabh Pant in the ODI squad said, “Prior to this, we had series in New Zealand and Australia. That is where Karthik was chosen because Rishabh played four Tests and we wanted him to get a good rest.”
“Then he (Rishabh Pant) played a couple of matches against England Lions where he played extremely well. Then he played the T20I matches. So we wanted him to give him a few ODIs as well before we take the final call.”
“We have included him (Rishabh Pant) considering the fact he is a left-hander. We will try and figure the best possible batting position for him. With a left-hander in the side, there is an advantage of left-right combination,” he said.
We also saw Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul back in team.
-Sai Kumar
