Dinesh Karthik wants to break the post-retirement commentary stereotype

Wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik who recently made his commentary debut during the inaugural ICC World Test Championship final between New Zealand and India wants to change the perception of commentary being a post-retirement option.

Karthik who will also commentate during the five-match Test series between hosts England and India has become a crowd favourite and barring his sexist tweet during the ODI series between England and Sri Lanka, he is having a wonderful time at the commentary box.

Karthik said that while playing cricket is much difficult than talking on the microphone, he agreed that commentary has its own set of challenges. The opportunity to rub shoulders with the likes of Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain is also helping him honing his commentary skills.

"Actually, I was the only debutant of that final," Karthik said. After completing his commentary duties in the England-India Test series, Karthik will fly to UAE to join the Kolkata Knight Riders for the remainder of the 14th season of the IPL. He is expected to lead the side in the absence of regular skipper Eoin Morgan.

Speaking on his commentary stint Karthik said, "I did that and it went pretty well. That is when I got the opportunity to do commentary and I decided to go for it. The mindset was just to speak about whatever little I know about the game.”

"There are a lot of other sports like basketball and football where current players come on air when they are not playing."

"Even now during the Sri Lanka-England T20s, James Anderson was doing it for BBC in the next room. So it is a normal thing, it is only in India I think it is considered like that (post-retirement option). I obviously want to break that stereotype to an extent and I am happy to do this when I am not playing,” Karthik concluded.

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