Dinesh Karthik in action for RCB this season. (BCCI Photo)
All one hopes for at the end of a magical journey is that they left no stone unturned. But, for Karthik there exists one: his inability to represent his hometown Chennai in the IPL.
There are very few players who are just unmistakably associated with the IPL: MS Dhoni donning the iconic yellow of CSK, Virat Kohli in the fiery reds of RCB, and witnessing a match-winning knock in the death from none other than Dinesh Karthik.
Karthik has cemented his legacy as one of the stalwarts of the IPL, as one of the very few players to have played in every single edition of the tournament so far, and has been viewed as an ironman in the shorter format, with his ability to produce crucial knocks in the death for the teams he represents.
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But, Father Time eventually catches up to the best of us all, and Karthik does not view it any differently himself, as the now-RCB player opened up on the idea of retirement on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast with Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton.
“You know I have had this conversation with both of you at different points during my last stint in the UK on how you decide when to retire; is there something called a nice one? It is coming to an end. It has come to an end,” stated Karthik.
“I did bat well in a couple of games. I felt good, which was very surprising. It is not easy mixing broadcasting and playing. I played in the DY Patil tournament and felt abysmal in it.”
All one hopes for at the end of a magical journey is that they left no stone unturned. But, for Karthik there exists one: his inability to represent his hometown Chennai in the IPL.
“I have a couple of regrets. A, I missed the opportunity to be retained by the Mumbai Indians. I reckon I missed the opportunity; they were keen on me. And B, I have not played for the Chennai Super Kings because I am from Chennai. They have always bid for me but could never get me. I wish I could turn the clock back and change things.”
Karthik has played for 5 franchises in his esteemed IPL career so far: Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Royal Challengers Banglore, with whom he’s spending his second spell now. But, will he get to play for his beloved hometown is a question that remains to be answered in the future to come.
