Tag: AllTimeIndiaXI

Dinesh Karthik’s All-Time India XI: A Mistake Rectified

Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has clarified his omission of legendary wicket-keeper and captain MS Dhoni from his all-time India XI across formats. Karthik initially left out Dhoni, sparking controversy among cricket enthusiasts.

In a recent interview, Karthik admitted that the omission was an oversight. “I made a big mistake,” he confessed. “I realized only when the episode came out.” He explained that amidst various considerations, he forgot to 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,” Karthik added.

Karthik, who 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 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.

Karthik’s all-time India XI across formats features a mix of India’s finest talents. 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.

Despite the initial 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.