'Not going to be easy' - Sanjay Manjrekar on Dinesh Karthik's T20 World Cup chances

Dinesh Karthik has scored 210 runs in seven matches in IPL 2022.

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Dinesh Karthik has scored 210 runs in seven matches in IPL 2022.
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Dinesh Karthik of India (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Dinesh Karthik has had an outstanding IPL 2022 so far. He has been the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s savior with the bat in the middle-order and has also gone on to play match-winning knocks for the franchise. Of all the seven matches that Karthik has played, he has been dismissed only twice.

Despite Karthik being in the form of his life, Sanjay Manjrekar reckons that the veteran wicketkeeper-batter’s performances will not be good enough to earn him a place in India’s Playing XI for the ICC T20 World Cup that is scheduled to be held in Australia in October-November this year. However, Manjrekar is optimistic about Karthik making it to the World Cup squad provided he maintains his current form.

When you say we want DK in the team, you want a guy out: Sanjay Manjrekar

“Only if he maintains his current form. I am going to be a little more pragmatic. We are just about halfway through this IPL. Let’s wait till the end of the league and see if the form is still intact. When you say we want DK in the team, you want a guy out,” Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.

“But when I’m looking at the incumbents, it’s tough to get into India’s Playing XI. Because he’s looking only at No. 5,6,7 spots. He’s not someone who can bat up the order… that’s not being considered I think. He will have to displace Rishabh Pant. We will have to start looking at Hardik Pandya vs Dinesh Karthik. It’s not going to be easy,” he added.

Coming back to IPL 2022, Karthik has amassed 210 runs from eight matches at an average of 105 and a strike rate of exactly 200, with his highest score being an unbeaten 66. Unfortunately for him, the Tamil Nadu cricketer had an off day against southern rivals Sunrisers Hyderabad where he got out for a duck.

RCB suffered an awkward batting collapse in that game and were skittled out for just 68 as SRH registered a comfortable nine-wicket win. Karthik will now be looking to regain his form when Bangalore face Rajasthan Royals at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on April 26.

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