Dinesh Karthik & Hardik Pandyaretired from cricket after RCB’s defeat against Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator match of IPL 2024; he reminisced about his playing days, sharing a few interesting moments of on-field banter with his Indian teammates during his IPL career.
“But that was a send-off.” “But that was a send-off,” said Karthik jokingly in an interview with Cricbuzz. “Every time I played against RCB and Virat Kohli caught my catch, ‘Ben Stokes’ came out of his mouth for sure.”
He has also played for Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) as well as erstwhile Gujarat Lions joining Virat in RCB.
He also revealed what Mumbai Indians’ captain and his now skipper Hardik Pandya told him when he was batting.
“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 little bit). That was good. He’s a good friend. He was also like Commentator banke bhi thoda kaam kar raha hai (Even after becoming commentator he’s working on his game) That was fun,” Karthik said.
Karthik played 257 IPL matches besides 60 T20Is; he recollected another moment when former MI captain Rohit Sharma commented ‘isko World Cup khelna hai’ on-field in the recently concluded season.
“This year Rohit taunting me… unnecessarily giving me hopes,” says Karthik.
Karthik, who commentates as well, featured in 26 Tests and 94 ODIs for India apart from playing 60 T20Is.
