According to news agency PTI, Dinesh Karthik, the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman from India, is planning to retire from his IPL career after representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the upcoming season.The 17th edition of IPL is set to commence on March 22, with Chennai Super Kings set to face RCB in Chennai. This season is anticipate to mark Karthik’s final stint in the IPL. Additionally, the 38-year-old is likely to make an announcement regarding his retirement from international cricket in the near future.
Read Also : Haryana: Men climb walls of Tauru exam centre to help students cheat in board exams
Dinesh Karthik to End IPL Career with RCB, Among Top 3 Most Capped Players
Karthik last represent India in the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022 but he has been an integral part of the RCB set-up for the last two seasons after being bought for 5.5 crore at the auctions that year.
Karthik, who represented six franchises – Daredevils (2008-14), Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings – 2011), Mumbai Indians (2012-13), Gujarat Lions (2016-17), Knight Riders (2018-21) and Royal Challengers (2015, 2022-present) – is one of the most capped players of IPL. With 242 appearances, he stands at No.3 in the list behind MS Dhoni (250) and Rohit Sharma (243). He has missed just two IPL games in his entire career which his franchise has been a part of.
Read Also : IOC to make fuel for Formula 1 – first by an Indian firm
Dinesh Karthik’s IPL journey
Karthik is also among only seven cricketers to have featured in every single edition of IPL since its inception in 2008. The others are Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Wriddhiman Saha and Manish Pandey.
Karthik has had quite a journey in the IPL. He started off with Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) in 2008 before moving to Kings XI Punjab in 2011. He spent the following two seasons with Mumbai Indians before going back to Delhi in 2014 for a price tag of a whopping ₹12.5 crore. Royal Challengers signed him in 2015 for ₹10.5 crore and he then played for Gujarat Lions in 2016 and 2017 before spending four seasons with the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Before IPL 2022, KKR released Karthik, and RCB purchased him for the second time for ₹5.5 crore. He had a stellar 2022 for RCB while mainly playing the role of a finisher. Karthik made 330 runs in 16 matches at an average of 55 and an explosive strike-rate of 183.33 that year, a guiding force in RCB’s march to the play-offs.
Read Also : Mumbai Indians Shabnim Ismail Creates History, Bowls Fastest Delivery