I am trying to achieve what team management has told me: Dinesh Karthik

There’s been a long debate surrounding India’s middle-order in white-ball cricket. Players have come and gone and there’s been a lot of chopping and changing. While the No. 4 was one spot that has been a long-standing problem for the ‘Men in Blue’, the finisher’s spot has also been under scrutiny. With MS Dhoni’s finishing skills on the wane, India’s search for a finisher hasn’t ended yet.

At No. 5 and 6 (depending on where Dhoni bats), India had entrusted Kedar Jadhav with the finisher’s responsibility as he chips in with a few overs as well. However, he’s been injury-prone and despite being fit Dinesh Karthik has been preferred for this series in Australia. The Tamil Nadu batsman has been in and out of the ODI side. He showed some excellent ability to finish off games in the second ODI as his 14-ball 25 helped India overhaul the target of 299. He alongside MS Dhoni (who scored a masterful 55 not out) finished the game for India.

After the game, Dinesh Karthik revealed that the team management has defined a specific role and that is at No. 6. Hence, he’s worked on it but thinks it’s one of the hardest skills to master. But he’s trying to live up to the expectations of the team management. “Definitely the team management has told me this is the role for me right now. And they want me to do the best I can. They are backing me completely. They have told me that this is where I’m going to bat and this is what they expect out of me and I’m trying to achieve that,” Karthik told after India’s series-leveling win.

Great to watch Dhoni finish it off: Karthik  

MS Dhoni has been a subject to criticism very often in the recent past. He has been ridiculed for his approach and after his 96-ball 51, there were divided opinions. However, in this game, he silenced his critics in style as he played the situation smartly. He calculated the chase and finished it off really well. He’s done it time and again but this innings of substance came after a long gap and hence, Dinesh Karthik was all praise for the former skipper.

Karthik said that Dhoni exactly knew his plans and they planned it out well and eventually didn’t take a lot of pressure. He also lauded the 37-year-old Ranchi player’s ability to absorb pressure and deliver when the time is right.

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