By: Mohit Singhal
IND Vs SA: After showing scintillating form in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore, 37-year-old Dinesh Karthik proved his worth in the Indian colours too and has put a needle over the selectors why was he ignored for most of his career.
On Friday in the fourth T20I against South AfricaKarthik blazed his first half-century in the shortest format while coming into the bat when India was struggling to go ahead in the do-or-die match at Saurashtra Cricket Stadium, Rajkot to equalise the series after trailing 0-2 in the five-match series.
Now it will be a mouth-watering decider in the fifth match on Sunday at the bowler’s hell Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore.
IND Vs SA: Dinesh Karthik becomes the oldest Indian to hit T20I fifty
Commentating in the India tour o f England last year, Dinesh once said his dream is to represent India in the world cup in Australia and can fill up the shoes left by legend MS Dhoni.
Proving his statement and words, Dinesh smashed his first fifty-plus score in international T20Is and becomes the oldest Indian to hit 50 in this format.
He raced to his half-century at the age of 37 breaking the record of former captain Dhoni who reached the feat at the age of 36.
Coming in at the middle when India was trailing at 81/4 after 13 overs, Tamil Nadu keeper batter reached his fifty in just 26-balls. He scored 55 which comprised of 9 fours and 2 sixes in it.