Returning to India side harder than making debut, says Dinesh Karthik

What's the story?

While Dinesh Karthik is ready to play any role that is given to him, the 32-year-old believes that it is harder to make a comeback to the national side than making a debut. Karthik, who has been on song since his three-year hiatus from ODIs ended in July 2017 when he made his comeback against West Indies.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, he said: "It is always harder to make an international comeback than play for the first time. When you are part of the playing XI after a long time, you have to fight a lot of mental pressure to prove yourself.

"For me, I would want to contribute in whatever role is given to me. I am not in a position to decide about my role. But I am ready to play my part in all three areas.”

In case you didn't know...

After being picked as a replacement in India's Champions Trophy squad, Dinesh Karthik played his first ODI since 2014 against West Indies in the series that immediately followed the Champions Trophy. Before that his ODI for India came in the 2014 Asia Cup against Afghanistan.

The heart of the matter

Since then he has played 5 ODIs and has two fifties to his name at an average of 78.50. Despite scoring a fifty in the West Indies in the final ODI of the series, he was dropped for the ODI series against Sri Lanka.

He didn't feature in the ODI series against Australia as well, but played all three ODIs against New Zealand, where he scored 105 runs in three matches and was dismissed just once.

What's next?

India's next assignment is the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka, following which they will play against the same country in three ODIs and T20Is. Karthik will hope that strong performances in the Ranji Trophy for Tamil Nadu will ensure that he makes the cut when the ODI and T20I squads are announced.

Author's take

Ever since he was recalled back to the Indian side, Dinesh Karthik has done everything he can, with the willow in hand to ensure that he gets another game. But he has been unlucky to be a part of the revolving door that is India's middle-order and their attempts to find a No.4 batsman who will be there for the 2019 World Cup. So he is certainly not wrong when he speaks about making a comeback to the side, something Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina only know all too well.