Dinesh Karthik opens up on his comeback and reveals what keeps him going

Indian wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik opened up on the evolution of T20 Cricket and his comeback to the national side.

Ahead of the fourth T20I against the Proteas in Rajkot, BCCI's social media handle released a video featuring DK. The veteran cricketer claimed that T20 cricket has changed a lot since the time he featured in India's first-ever T20I game.

"It's almost a decade and a half, so a lot of things have changed. So it's a good feeling to know that you played the 1st T20I (India's first T20I) and then obviously to come back and play against South Africa. Cricket has completely changed from what it was 15 years ago to what it is right now, especially this format," Dinesh Karthik told BCCI on the eve of the 4th T20I in Rajkot.

"The fact that I have been part of it and seen it grow through various phases… It's a completely different beast than what it used to be. To still be around and enjoy this, be part of the national team, I have no prouder way of putting it. Representing India means the most to me, and I am lucky to be here,"

Karthik has made a dramatic return to Team India on the back of his sensational performances for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2022. According to him, the dream of playing for the Indian team has kept him going for a decade.

"Very happy, very proud… it's an incredible atmosphere and team to be part of. For the last three years now, from the outside, I have been looking in, and I know what a special feeling it is to be part of this team. And to be part of this team, I am very happy and very grateful and am enjoying every second that I am here," 

"I have been dropped so many times. I have always wanted to come back into the Indian team. Wherever I have played.. whether it's domestic cricket, the IPL, the fire in the belly and the urge to come back here and wear the national colours and represent India has been something I dream of every day, and that has something that has kept me going consistently in the last decade or so,"

The 37-year-old revealed that he has always found ways to try and enhance his game and stated that he always had special people around to help him throughout the course of his journey.

"I have always found ways to enhance my game, and I have always had people, special people, around me to help me in that journey, and they have been part of this journey,"

"The fact that I have always wanted to come back to the national team and do well has been the shining light, so to say, in my life for a very, very long time now," he added.

The Tamil Nadu batter is currently with team India and has registered scores of 1*, 30*, and 6 in the three matches of the ongoing five-match T20I series against South Africa.