Dinesh Karthik has been a part of the Indian cricket scene since 2004. This Tamil Nadu-born wicket-keeper batter is often seen playing his shots with a straight bat. Although he was once a first-choice wicket-keeper, the arrival of MS Dhoni meant that Karthik lost his place as keeper. Nevertheless, he’s continued to make comebacks as a batsman on the side throughout his career. There are some interesting facts about Dinesh Karthik that could surprise many fans!
Here are 7 Interesting Facts You Should Know About Dinesh Karthik:
Dinesh Kumar Karthik was born on June 1, 1985, in Chennai. For two years during his childhood, he resided in Kuwait with his father, who was an incredible support system for his son’s budding career. Although his father had been involved in Division A cricket in Tamil Nadu, he eventually made the decision to focus on studies as his family wished. Nonetheless, he did not hesitate to make sure that his son worked hard and developed skillful batting and wicket-keeping abilities.
Karthik made his first-class debut in 2002 against Baroda while playing as a wicketkeeper and batting at number 8. In the second match, he made an unbeaten 88 runs against Uttar Pradesh, ultimately resulting in a draw with only one wicket remaining. His performance helped Tamil Nadu avoid defeat.
DK made his debut in the ODI format playing against England in 2004. Though an early mishap cost him an opportunity to catch Michael Vaughan, the batsman was eventually stumped by Karthik’s impressive agility. Soon enough, Karthik was being talked about around town.
India made history on 1st December 2006 when they won their first-ever T20 international against South Africa. Batting first, South Africa managed to accumulate 126 runs in their allotted overs. Karthik came in at position five and played an impressive 28-ball 31-run knock that guided the team to victory. In recognition of his achievement, Karthik was awarded the Man of the Match award and became the first Indian to receive such an honor in a T20I match.
Dinesh Karthik has been a sought-after player in the Indian Premier League auctions in recent years. He was purchased for INR 12.5 crore by Delhi Daredevils in 2014 and INR 10.5 crore by Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2015, making him the second-highest-paid player each year behind Yuvraj Singh. Despite his hefty price tag, Karthik failed to justify his selection in both teams and was released after one season. He moved to Gujarat Lions for INR 2.3 crore in 2016. Last year he played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and made his comeback in the Indian team.
Karthik and his childhood sweetheart exchanged vows in 2007. However, the couple divorced after a few years in 2012. Karthik then became engaged to Dipika Pallikal, who famously competed for India in squash. Notably, Dipika noted that she had no prior interest in cricket players – but Karthik was the exception. They were married in 2015.
Dinesh Karthik has been a part of a dance reality show ‘Ek Khiladi Ek Hasina’ alongside Nigar Khan. As the most experienced active player, Dinesh Karthik is heavily invested in India’s cricketing future. He is putting all his effort into aiming for a spot in the side for the 2023 World Cup competitions.