Dinesh Karthik has already booked his place in India’s T20 World Cup squad, says Ashish Nehra

Former India pacer Ashish Nehra reckons that ‘impact player’ Dinesh Karthik has already booked his place in the T20 World Cup squad. Nehra lauded the experienced batter, saying that his ability to hit in the slog overs can help India chase down targets as big as 200 even on pitches in Australia.

Karthik returned to the Indian T20I side on the back of a fantastic IPL 2022 season and has been showcasing his finishing prowess against South Africa. Karthik has scored 92 runs in four T20Is at an astonishing strike rate of 158.6 and with a boundary rate of 3.8 balls. Most importantly, Karthik scored 84 off those runs in the slog overs at a strike rate of 186.7 with a boundary every 3.2 balls.

“Today he batted at No.6, which I liked, and that fact that he scored a half-century…his innings was longer and he got to bat earlier in the game…so these are the expectation you have from your most experienced player whom you have recalled to the team,” Nehra said while talking to Cricbuzz.

“Yes he does score runs in the last 3-4 overs but experience means that he knows a lot many other things as well. Selectors, team management should all be happy. The knock surely will give him confidence as well and going forward, in this entire talk about impact at that batting position…you have Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja and then the experience of Karthik. He is the kind of player who can help you chase down even targets of 200 in Australia,” he said.

When asked if he had already booked his place in the T20 World Cup squad, Nehra replied saying, “He has already booked his place in the T20 World Cup squad. He scored 55 at a strike rate of 200.”

Karthik will be part of India’s touring party for the two-match T20I series against Ireland as well.