LSG vs RCB: Dinesh Karthik can play finisher’s role for India in T20 World Cup 2022, says Sunil Gavaskar

Batting great Sunil Gavaskar is impressed with Dinesh Karthik’s finishing abilities and believes that RCB keeper-batter can play the role of a finisher for the Indian team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.

Notably, Karthik has revealed his India comeback ambitions, saying he has been putting in the hard yards to make it happen amid sensational form with RCB in IPL 2022. Karthik, 36, has looked more confident than ever, striking at over 200 in the new IPL season.

Karthik has been in superb form and has been hitting the ball fluently for his new franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore this season. The veteran wicketkeeper has produced effective knocks of 32, 14, 44, 7, 34, and 66 with an astonishing strike rate of 209.57. By remaining unbeaten in five of the six innings, he is averaging 197.00.

“He said he wants to be a part of the Indian Team for the T20 World Cup. So what I am saying is don’t look at his age, just look at what he’s producing,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.

Karthik’s best this season came (66 not out from 34 balls) against Delhi Capitals in their last outing when he took on the experienced Mustafizur Rahman and Indian left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed with his fantastic stroke play to power them to a match-winning 189/5. RCB won the match by 16 runs and Karthik was adjudged Player-of-the-match.

“He’s just changing the complexion of the game with his performance. He’s doing it for his team. He’s doing the job that you can expect him to do at number 6 or 7 at the (T20) World Cup (in October-November),” Gavaskar added.

A veteran of 26 Tests, 94 ODIs, and 32 T20Is, the 36-year-old last played for India in the heartbreaking semifinal loss to New Zealand in the ICC World Cup in 2019.