‘Doors are open for him’ - Chetan Sharma on Dinesh Karthik's India future

The All India Selection Committee announced India’s squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series in New Zealand, which is set to be held right after the T20 World Cup 2022. The big names like Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli were rested for the series while Hardik Pandya was named as the skipper. Among the noticeable names, veteran batter Dinesh Karthik didn't find a place in the T20I squad and there were speculations of the end of the road for the 37-year-old. 

Karthik made his way into the Indian side on the back of a stunning IPL season for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and mastered the role of a finisher to help his international return. He did a decent job in the preparation series ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022 but is yet to fire in the tournament in Australia. Speaking of the omission, chief selector Chetan Sharma explained the reason for not including Karthik in the squad.  

It's basically on load management, we are focusing: Chetan Sharma

Sharma noted that Karthik has been rested on the basis of load management and mentioned that the door is still open. He went on to hail Karthik for his performances this year and reckoned that the plan was to try out other names as well. He concluded that medical status of players cannot be revealed. 

"It is not like that (looking beyond Dinesh Karthik?). The World Cup would have just gotten over (T20I series 5 days after World Cup final). It's basically on load management, we are focusing on it a lot. We are planning on whom to give rest at the appropriate time,” Chetan Sharma was quoted as saying by India Today. 

"And Dinesh Karthik, the way he came in the side and the way he performed, he is always available for the selectors. Though it's just, we have a few T20I games ahead of us immediately after the World Cup, we thought of trying an additional set of players. Otherwise, the doors are open for him. He is a brilliant player, there is no problem at all.

"The medical status is an internal matter and cannot be discussed on a public platform. He is a part and parcel of the World Cup. He is a brilliant player, he will be there in the future also, there is nothing to worry about," he added. 

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