NEW DELHI: Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has cleared the air regarding his all-time India XI across formats, which surprisingly omitted legendary wicket-keeper and captain MS Dhoni. Karthik recently explained that the omission was an honest mistake, admitting he forgot to include a wicketkeeper in his lineup.
Karthik made the clarification after receiving feedback once the episode aired on Cricbuzz.
“Bhai log, bada galti ho gaya (Guys, I made a big mistake). Genuinely, it was a mistake. I realized only when the episode came out,” Karthik confessed. He further elaborated that due to an oversight amidst various considerations, he did not include a wicketkeeper, leading to the assumption that Rahul Dravid would take on that role. “Can you believe being a wicketkeeper, I forgot to have a wicketkeeper? It is a blunder,” he added.Karthik, who himself has played as a wicketkeeper for India, lavished praise on Dhoni, calling him “one of the greatest cricketers to have ever played the game.” He also clarified that if given the chance to redo his team, Dhoni would be his automatic choice for the No. 7 spot and would be the captain of any Indian team, irrespective of the format.
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The all-time India XI across formats that Karthik selected features a mix of India’s finest talents across formats. The lineup includes Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma as openers, followed by Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar in the crucial No. 3 and No. 4 positions. Virat Kohli is at No. 5, adding further depth and firepower to the batting lineup.
For the all-rounder slots, Karthik chose Yuvraj Singh and Ravindra Jadeja, both known for their match-winning abilities with both bat and ball. The spin department features Ravichandran Ashwin and Anil Kumble, two of India’s most successful spinners, while the pace attack is led by Jasprit Bumrah and Zaheer Khan. Karthik also named Harbhajan Singh as the 12th man, recognizing his significant contributions to Indian cricket.
Dinesh Karthik’s initial XI, which led to the controversy, was: Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Anil Kumble, Jasprit Bumrah, and Zaheer Khan, with Harbhajan Singh as the 12th man.
Despite the mix-up, Karthik’s selections underscore his respect for the greats of Indian cricket and highlight the depth of talent the country has produced over the years.