IPL 2022 | 'I thought he was at the end of his career' - de Villiers on DK

Dinesh Karthik has been astounding in the current season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was unbeaten in six out of the seven matches that he has played for Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB). The 36-year-old, on many occasions, has solely turned the tables for his franchise this season.

Karthik has once again emerged as an elite finisher and proved his worth to fans and peers alike. He has been lauded with praise and his current form has raised questions about his absence from the Indian squad. 

Many believe that if not in the past, Karthik has now indeed shown beyond doubt that he is one of the best finishers in the game. His confidence and form in this season of the IPL are unmatched and frightening.

After a magnificent performance against the Delhi Capitals, where he came out with a knock of 66 off 34 balls, legendary South African batsman and Royal Challengers Bangalore star AB Devilliers; who is also referred to as ‘Mr.360’ for his surprising batting fanatics, stated that he was surprised by the wicketkeeper batsman’s energy.

De Villiers also said that Karthik makes him want to go back and play cricket again.

“The form he is at this moment, and he has already won RCB 2-3 games. He looks like he is in the form of his life. I don’t know where that comes from because he hasn’t played a lot of cricket. But man, he looks in good form, and he plays around the wicket 360 degrees,” AB Devilliers was quoted by the India Today newspaper.

“He almost makes me feel like I want to go back and play some cricket again, watching him play. He gets me excited, plays under pressure in the middle order, and he’s got a lot of experience, and if he keeps his form up, there is a good chance that RCB are going a long way up,” the ex Proteas added.

When he was not representing India at the international level, Dinesh Karthik took up commentating gigs, where he was again praised for his analytical yet straightforward commentating skills. To which DeVilliers made his surprise known, 

“I was incredibly surprised, and I didn’t expect it. I have always known that he is a very capable player, a nitty-gritty kind of a guy. He likes high-pressure situations, and he’s a busy player at the wicket. But he hasn’t played a lot of cricket. The last time I saw him before the IPL, he was commentating in the UK. He wasn’t playing a lot of domestic cricket, and I thought he was possibly at the end of his career. But he surprised us all, I think, with intent and energy.” AB concluded

It is evident that Karthik is in the best form of his career, or maybe it is just a glimpse into the future. Either way, many around the globe believe that DK deserves to be a part of the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 International Men’s World Cup. It is what he has strived for all these years.