Cardiff: Dinesh Karthik can be deceptive. His
studious demeanour often concealing his penchant for audacious
strokeplay, his quiet mannerisms making him a bit of a non-candidate for
wicketkeeping position, the Tamil Nadu captain is currently basking in
the results of the hours he has put in the nets, fine-tuning his batting
skills, knowing fully well that making the cut as a keeper alone would
remain a chimera for him.
On Tuesday, when, in a practice match against Australia, he set
about a rearguard operation with renowned crisis manager MS Dhoni,
Karthik could be momentarily excused for thinking he was batting with
his biggest rival. If he indeed thought so, it didn’t show. What Karthik
did show, was something surreal, even exhilarating.
The sight of a diminutive, unheralded underdog challenging the big
boys and coming out trumps fancies us all. On Tuesday, Karthik, en route
to his unbeaten 146, did play to the fancies of an ardent optimist. Not
many would have expected India to fight back when the score read 55/5.
Except for the two men in middle.
Dhoni, who revels in such situations and Karthik, fresh from a
century against Sri Lanka in India’s first warm-up game, stitched an
impressive 211 runs, much the same way Kohli and Karthik did in the
previous game.
Having played mature innings in back to back games, Karthik has
staked a solid claim for a bit of permanence in the national side.
If the law of averages does catch up with Kohli, Karthik, on
current form, can bring succor to the Indian dressing room. India’s
top-order failed to fire in both the games, so did their middle order.
Against Sri Lanka, despite their win, India were clearly second best.
Indian cricket, in present scenario, doesn’t need a superstar to
pull it out of the muck; an industrious, assiduous bulwark would be just
as good. Will this be Dinesh Karthik’s coming of age? June 6 might get
the answers rolling.
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