Dinesh Karthik blames finger injury for missing out on selection

While Parthiv Patel has been making headlines of late following his selection in the side, the Indian cricketing fraternity cannot help but think where the rest of the keepers in the country are. While Wriddhiman Saha remains to be the best when it comes to his glove work in the country, the question that arises is – Where is Dinesh Karthik?

Before MS Dhoni made his way to the Test side, the custodian who was on the side was Dinesh Karthik. The 31-year old last played for the Indians in the 2013 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy, a tournament wherein he excelled in, to say the least. However, the fact of the matter remained that Karthik had an injured finger something that has prevented him from keeping wickets in recent times.

Anil Kumble, the Indian coach addressed the issue of Karthik head-on. “Regarding Dinesh, at the moment, I don’t think he is keeping wickets for Tamil Nadu and I am not sure why that is the case. But, at the moment, from what I gather he is not keeping wickets,” Kumble said during a press conference.

Karthik was dejected upon hearing it. “It’s a setback and I’m disappointed.The injury came at the wrong time. I suffered a finger injury during the first match against Mumbai.

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Karthik reportedly had a hairline fracture in his right hand and also felt bad that he had worked on his keeping skills rather furiously. “It was a hairline fracture in the middle-finger on the right hand and yet I decided to keep wickets in the next two matches. It got worse and I was advised not to keep wickets as any further damage would mean the end of my season.

“I feel terribly bad as I have worked hard on my keeping skills. Ahead of the season, I worked with former India keeper Sameer Dighe on my glove work.

Karthik also revealed that he would be recommended by Gautam Gambhir and Ashish Kapoor if need be. “Gautam Gambhir and Ashish Kapoor (captain and coach of India Blue side in Duleep Trophy) can certainly talk about the improvement I have made as a keeper,” Karthik told TOI on Thursday. “Though I’m a bit upset, I now know that I’m in contention.

Dinesh Karthik also revealed that he would be keeping wickets for Tamil Nadu in the upcoming encounter against Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy. “I will be fit for the next game against Gujarat as a keeper. I have given my best in batting and I’m confident of doing well with the gloves as well. Keeping is a lot like umpiring, the misses are remembered most.

“I have genuinely improved as a keeper and I’m itching to wear them back. As I said about two months back, I still have the burning desire to play for India again,” he signed off.

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