Subramaniam Badrinath opens up on Dinesh Karthik's T20 World Cup chances

Former cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath weighed in on the contentious issue of Dinesh Karthik's potential inclusion in the upcoming  T20 World Cup squad. 

Badrinath raised doubts about Dinesh Karthik's role in the team, questioning if there's space for him in the starting XI due to his advancing career stage. He suggested prioritising younger players over Karthik but acknowledged the possibility of selecting him if he fits the finisher role

"See, if you're going to pick Dinesh Karthik, you have to play him in the XI for all the matches. The question is does the XI in Team India have room for a player like Dinesh Karthik? Because let me be honest, he's in the twilight of his career. So I think he's probably not going to be useful if you're just going to keep him in the squad. And it's not the right way to go. I would rather go for a youngster. But if you're certain that he's the finisher you want, that if he's going to play in the XI, I will select him. But then in the finisher role, there are many options who have gone ahead.," Badrinath said on Star Sports Press Room.

However, Badrinath pointed out several contenders for the finisher position, including Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rinku Singh, complicating Karthik's chances of selection.

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"I think Hardik Pandya, will be there in XI. And that category is very, very rare. You don't have Indian all-rounder. So probably he'll be there. And looking at Jadeja, he's also a finisher. He's done well. Rinku Singh has been phenomenal. So will DK get ahead of all these players? I see Rishabh Pant there as well as a keeper. So probably,  it's about the position that you have to see," he added.

DK is playing well in the IPL, but I think that these young kids: FInch

Australian cricketer Aaron Finch, also speaking on Star Sports Press Room, echoed similar sentiments. Finch acknowledged Karthik's impressive form in the IPL but underscored the potential of young talents like Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Rinku Singh to shape India's cricketing future.

"I think that, yes, DK is playing well in the IPL, but I think that these young kids like Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant and Rinku Singh are serious players and could start to help set India up for a long time to come. So I wouldn't pick DK personally in the WC squad," Finch said.