The Twenty20 International series between India and South Africa is nearly over, as the two teams are scheduled to play each other in the series decider on Sunday in Bengaluru. This match will determine who wins the series. The series marked the beginning of the second phase of India’s preparation for the Twenty20 World Cup, which will take place in 2022. Even though the team still has 10 more Twenty20 International matches spread out over three series until the T20 World Cup roster is selected, India veteran Ashish Nehra believes that Dinesh Karthik has already cemented his position in the team.
Karthik, who is making his first appearance with the Indian squad since the 2019 ODI World Cup, has scored 92 runs in the series at a strike rate of 158.6 and has hit a boundary every 3.8 balls. This is his first appearance with the Indian side since the IPL 2022 season, which was quite successful. In the slog overs, he was responsible for scoring 84 of those runs, with a strike rate of 186.7 and a boundary being hit per 3.2 balls. His score also includes a fifty, which he struck during the fourth Twenty20 International encounter on the way to scoring 55 runs off 27 balls.
What did Ashish Nehra say about Dinesh Karthik?
Nehra heaped admiration on the veteran batsman after India’s match in Rajkot on Friday and told Cricbuzz that the batsman’s skills in the slog overs may assist India in chasing down objectives as high as 200, even on wickets in Australia. Nehra’s comments were made during an interview with Cricbuzz.
“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 expectations you have from your most experienced player whom you have recalled to the team,” Nehra said.
“He scores runs in the final three or four overs, but his experience also means that he’s knowledgeable about a great deal of other information as well. The selectors and management of the squad ought to be pleased. This whole conversation is about the batting position… you have Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, and then there is the experience of Karthik. The knock will undoubtedly give him confidence as well, and moving ahead, this entire talk about impact at that batting position. He is the sort of player that can assist you to chase down even targets of 200 in Australia,” Nehra added.
When asked whether he had already secured his spot in the team for the Twenty20 World Cup, Nehra swiftly responded by stating, “He has already booked his place in the T20 World Cup squad.”
Karthik will also participate in the next two-match series against Ireland, which will take place later this month. He has been kept on the team for this series.
