Dinesh Karthik joins Sharjah Warriorz for ILT20 2025-26

Ahead of the first-ever Player auction for the ILT20, the Sharjah Warriorz have added the swashbuckling Indian wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik to their squad. He is one of the most experienced and dynamic cricketers in the sport, and replaces the Sri Lankan Kusal Mendis, in the JP Duminy coached Sharjah Warriorz side. 

One of the sharpest minds in the game of cricket, especially in the shorter formats, Karthik’s legacy and excellence is well documented. An IPL champion with the Mumbai Indians in 2013, Karthik was also a member of the Indian team that won both the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.

In more recent years, Karthik was among the leadership group, as the batting coach, for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise, who won their maiden IPL title in 2025. Co-incidentally, at RCB in IPL 2025, Karthik had worked closely with the big-hitting Tim David, who is one of the overseas players for the Sharjah Warriorz in Season 4 of the ILT20.

Hailing from Tamil Nadu, Karthik, who began his international cricket career in 2004, is renowned for his abilities as a strong finisher. Usually seen to be the aggressor in the final phases of a T20 innings, the former KKR captain’s six-hitting ability, never-say-die attitude, and penchant for scoring all around the wicket, will further strengthen the Sharjah Warriorz’s batting unit.

In a career that panned across two decades, Karthik has played 412 T20 games, batted in 364 innings, amassed 7,437 runs, with 35 half-centuries to his name, and a strike-rate of 136.66. In the India colours, he has played 60 T201 matches, batted in 48 and gone on to make 686 runs at a strike-rate of 142.61.

At the Sharjah Warriorz, Dinesh Karthik will not only team up with his RCB colleague Tim David, but also with Sikandar Raza, who won the ILT20 last season with the Dubai Capitals. The troika will join Captain Tim Southee, Johnson Charles, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, and Saurabh Netravalkar.

Speaking on the occasion, Dinesh Karthik said:

“I am very excited to be joining the Sharjah Warriorz team for the ILT20 tournament. I know they are a young team, aspiring to do some special things, and I am happy to be here. Sharjah is also one of those iconic stadiums one always wants to play at. And to be a part of the franchise Sharjah Warriorz, makes a dream come true.” 

Head Coach JP Duminy said:

“Dinesh Karthik is one of the most experienced hands and an incredibly innovative mind when it comes to T20 cricket, and I am chuffed to have him in our corner for the upcoming edition of the ILT20. The whole world has seen what he is capable of with the bat, and his explosive batting, dynamic personality, and immense experience will surely benefit the younger players significantly during the course of the tournament. I look forward to working with him closely.”

Kshemal Waingankar, COO, Sharjah Warriorz added:

“We are elated to be welcoming on board Dinesh Karthik, one of the legends of white-ball cricket in India. His brilliant work ethic, infectious nature, and of course the ability to score very quickly will surely make the Sharjah Warriorz a stronger and more dangerous outfit on the field. We realised this is an area of focus for us this season, and we are happy to have Dinesh Karthik in our side and we are confident he and the team will do everything possible to make the season a memorable one.”