Top 5 moments in Dinesh Karthik's career

Dinesh Karthik has been in and out of the Indian team since the year 2004. In a stop-start career of almost 14 years, the 32-year-old wicket-keeper batsman from Tamil Nadu has not been given a consistent run by the selectors.

The emergence of MS Dhoni as the wicket-keeper-batsman or that of Virender Sehwag as an opener in Test cricket, has sidelined him.

After the retirement of Dhoni, Karthik has till date failed to establish a permanent place in the Indian team and is competing with the likes of Wriddhiman Saha and Parthiv Patel for a place in the Test squad.

In the limited opportunities he has represented India, Karthik averages 27.78 in 37 Test innings, 29.92 in 67 ODI innings, and 33.62 in 17 T20 internationals. Though the averages may not reflect much about the career of Karthik, what needs to be considered is that he has played only 121 international games for India in a span of 14 years and has rarely been the first choice in the playing 11.

However, there are a few moments in his career which have lasted in the minds of the Indian cricket fans. Here is a look at such memories:

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#5 India vs England - Lords 2004

The debutant Dinesh Karthik brilliantly stumped the skipper Michael Vaughan at Lords

India had already lost the three-match ODI series against England in the year 2004 after being thrashed in the first couple of matches. And in the third ODI, they handed a debut to 19-year-old Karthik, at Lords.

Though the wicketkeeper-batsman could not contribute much with the bat, he got India back in the game by stumping England's top scorer Michael Vaughan in the run chase. Karthik smartly moved down the leg side to collect a wide from Harbhajan Singh and stumped Vaughan, who had looked to charge the off-spinner.

The sight of a 19-year-old wicketkeeper being athletic and stumping a batsman was indeed refreshing to see for the Indian fans. India went on to win the match by 23 runs.

#4 India vs South Africa - Durban 2007

Dinesh Karthik took a stunning catch to dismiss Graeme Smith in the Super 8 match at Durban

India needed to beat South Africa in a vital Super 8 match at Durban in the 2007 World T20. India scored a moderate 153 runs after choosing to bat in the said game.

However, the intensity in the field was seen when the Indians came out to field. In the second over of the innings, R.P. Singh bowled an outswinger to captain Graeme Smith who edged the ball to slips and Dinesh Karthik flew to his left to catch the ball mid-air to dismiss the South African skipper.

The catch changed the momentum of the game and India went on to beat South Africa and eventually were crowned champions in the inaugural World T20 in 2007.

#3 India vs Bangladesh - Mirpur, 2007

Dinesh Karthik scored his only international century against Bangladesh in Mirpur, Dhaka in 2007

Karthik's only century as an international cricketer was against Bangladesh in a Test at Mirpur, Dhaka, in 2007. After being knocked out of the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, team India started their long season by touring Bangladesh, and in the second Test of the series, India thrashed Bangladesh by an innings and 239 runs.

India were put in to bat by Bangladesh and scored 610 runs for the loss of only three wickets. The top 4 batsmen including Dinesh Karthik scored centuries and the Bangladesh bowlers were taken to the cleaners.

He scored 129 runs off 212 balls with 16 boundaries at an impressive strike rate of 60.85. The century remains Karthik's only century in international cricket.

#2 India's tour of England 2007

Dinesh Karthik scored 263 runs in 6 innings in the 3 match Test series against England in England

India toured England for a three-match Test series in the year 2007, and Dinesh Karthik as the opener was supposed to be the weak link in the Indian batting line.

However, the young wicket-keeper-batsman from Tamil Nadu scored 263 runs in 6 innings in the series, at an average of 43.83, which was the highest score by an Indian batsman in the three-match Test series.

Karthik played the English bowlers - Anderson, Sidebottom, Tremlett and Panesar - with ease and provided the perfect start for team India.

He scored three half-centuries opening the batting and had no problems whatsoever against the swinging ball and eventually led India to victory in the Test series against England in England after a span of 21 years.

#1 Nidahas Trophy - India vs Bangladesh - Colombo 2018

Karthik scored an unbeaten 29 runs off 8 balls to guide India to victory

The 2018 Nidahas Trophy saw the emergence of Dinesh Karthik as a finisher in the finals against Bangladesh in Colombo. When Karthik came to bat, India needed 34 to win off the last 12 balls.

The 32-year-old keeper batsman kept his cool and scored an unbeaten 29 off 8 balls to guide India to victory from an improbable position. With five runs required to win off the final delivery, a composed Karthik smashed a six and guided India to victory.

The innings against Bangladesh is probably the innings which will help him get back in the reckoning in the Indian team.