One of the most memorable moments in India’s ODI cricket history came when wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik rose to the occasion and wrote his name all over the final battle of the Nidahas Trophy 2018 against Bangladesh.
Popularly referred to as DK, the then 32-year-old veteran cricketer from Tamil Nadu became the toast of the nation with his unbeaten 8-ball-29 run knock in the final bid where India upstaged noisy neighbours Bangladesh on the very last ball of the 20th over. Striking the ball at a staggering rate of 362.50, DK’s cameo came right at the fag end of the T20 finale at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Karthik had hit 2 boundaries and 3 sixes of the total 29 runs he scored to bring the Nidahas Trophy home after overcoming Bangladesh in the tri-series final.
However, when put in the same category as former Indian captain MS Dhoni, drawing parallels with him in terms of being tagged as the best finisher, DK replied by saying that he still feels like a student in a University where Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a topper.
DK went on to dismiss reports that drew direct comparisons with the iconic MSD after his heroics in the final:
“When it comes to Dhoni, I am studying in the university where he is the topper. I have started my journey and it has given me a new wind of hope. His journey has been totally different,” said Karthik.
To top it all, Karthik became an esteemed cricketer to have the privilege of winning his country a trophy on the last ball with a six. Not every cricketer can boast of a distinction like that.
“It is probably karma of all the good things I have done through my cricketing career. It helped me hit that six; if it had been a four, it would have been a super over but it went two extra millimetres. It feels good that suddenly after so many years, there is a lot of attention on me,” a cricketer reborn in Karthik told the media at the time after achieving the feat.
Soon after being instrumental in the glorious triumph of the Men in Blue in the Nidahas Trophy, DK got appointed as the captain of the IPL franchise — Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). A team where he still keeps wickets at the age of 36 in the capacity of a vice-captain.
“His (Dhoni) journey has been different and my journey is a different one. MS is a terrific guy. He is somebody who used to be reserved, shy. Today, he is a person, who is really vocal in helping the youngsters. I feel these comparisons are very unfair.” Karthik had added after tasting heroic success in the final in 2018.
