Twitter in shock as Ben Stokes sends Dinesh Karthik's middle-stump for a walk

Dinesh Karthik is currently with the Indian team, which is playing the first of the five-match Test series against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Karthik has been with the national team ever since India’s start of the United Kingdom (UK) tour. He played his first match when MS Dhoni was benched for the second T20I against Ireland at Malahide Cricket Club Ground in Dublin.

Unfortunately, he didn’t get an opportunity to bat. He got his next chance in the deciding and final ODI against the Brits at Headingley in Leeds. Wriddhiman Saha, India’s regular wicketkeeper in Tests, is currently recovering from a shoulder injury and hence, Karthik was presumed to be drafted in for the opening Test. He didn’t have much to do behind the stumps in the first innings.

Karthik succumbs to a four-ball duck

However, while batting, the Tamil Nadu-born cricketer was required to bail the team out of jail. When he came to bat, India were tottering with the score at 100/4 in 27.4 overs. He was impressive in India’s practice match against Essex in Chelmsford and was expected to build a handy partnership with skipper Virat Kohli.

Nevertheless, Karthik couldn’t make an impact with the willow as Ben Stokes accounted for his wicket. The pacer dished out a back-of-a-length delivery, which jagged back a wee bit after pitching. Karthik was late in getting forward and the leather snuck through his bat and pad to uproot his middle-stump. Horrors of horror, he couldn’t open his account having played only four deliveries.

Meanwhile, Stokes also picked up his 100th wicket in Test cricket. With that wicket, India also lost half their side with a trail of 187 runs ahead of them in order to equal England’s first-innings score. In the meantime, Twitter wasn’t going to spare the 33-year-old player and subsequently, they severely bashed him.

Here is how Twitter reacted

I wonder where are @msdhoni haters and @DineshKarthik admirers? There was a reason why DK wasn't ever in the team all these years. Oh btw, horrendous decision to drop @cheteshwar1. @RaviShastriOfc needs to go.

— Yeshu Aggarwal (@yeshu_a) August 2, 2018

@DineshKarthik @imVkohli
What a great knock by Dinesh Kartik after some brilliant keeping. Can play for life.

— B.V.Raman (@bvraman52) August 2, 2018

Can we have Nayan Mongia instead of Dinesh Karthik? #ENGvIND @BCCI

— Mohit Choudhary (@Choudharis) August 2, 2018

It's amazing how similar Dinesh Karthik's test career looks to his middle stump. Flattened! #ENGvsIND

— No Balls Cricket (@NoBallsCricket) August 2, 2018

This is why Dinesh Karthik should not be playing here. Leaving a one foot gap between bat and no foot movement. Unacceptable.

— Anindya Dutta (@Cric_Writer) August 2, 2018

I never had faith in Dinesh Karthik in test and he proved me right 😤 #ENGvIND

— Amar Rana (@amar_tilakrana) August 2, 2018

Yess pant would have been better option than this overrated Dinesh Karthik pant will also scores runs quickly

— Sumanth @D 7781 (@sumanthcharry7) August 2, 2018

We @BCCI have been castled by @benstokes38 & @CurranSM who are barely bowlers. Embarassing for the BEST teat team@in the World actually. Specially @DineshKarthik dismissal, pathetic foot movement.#ENGvIND

— Akshay Hooda (@Akkerz) August 2, 2018

Believe it or not, Dinesh Karthik is the WORST wk batsman in Test Cricket for India. Batting average in mid 20s is terrible. Should have gone for Rishabh Pant in first place. #ENGvIND

— Siddharth Jha (@jha_siddhus94) August 2, 2018

#Stokes strikes again and #DineshKarthik fails to impress #ViratKohli and thinks to support #RishabhPant

— Venkatesh Yaadav (@ImYaadav13) August 2, 2018

No doubt how much talent you have but the way @klrahul11 n @DineshKarthik throwing their opportunity today devastated.

KL DK looks good when they not included in the playing Xi.

— Samir Jha🇮🇳 (@samir26_01) August 2, 2018

So much of gap between Dinesh Karthik's bat and pad that he could make a cosy world of his own there.#ENGvIND

— Addie Kumar (@adityeah) August 2, 2018

again, what the heck @DineshKarthik @ajinkyarahane88…. 🙁

— Aditya Arya (@Aditya0007Arya) August 2, 2018

I can play a better shot than @DineshKarthik@cricbuzz @BCCI #ENGvIND #England1000
You are there to play good cricket
Was it a shot in cricket book?

— Naved Alig (@Navedali1988) August 2, 2018

Dinesh Karthik was always a warm up merchant

— JSK (@imjsk27) August 2, 2018

#INDvsENG Feel sad for @DineshKarthik – dropped catch while keeping and then played such a poor shot! Such a big gap between bat n pad. You r wasting opportunities my friend.

— WassupIndia (@IndiaWassup) August 2, 2018