Twenty-six Tests, 94 ODIs and 60 T20s over two decades don’t make for eye-popping numbers, but the ever-troubled 38-year-old managed to stay relevant until the end despite spending more time on commentary than on the field over the last few years.
Before the T20 World Cup squad was announced, Karthik had entered into the debate over the selection of the wicketkeeper batsman with a breathtaking performance for RCB, but this latest comeback was not to be made as the selectors were right to go for younger talents.
While commentating on the India-England Test series in February and March, Karthik made the decision to retire, but the world only came to know about it when Michael Atherton shared the decision with the Tamil Nadu pacer on a podcast.
Having played for as many as six IPL teams since the tournament’s inception in 2008, Karthik can be proud of his record in the world’s top T20 league.
He finished as an IPL winner with almost 5,000 runs in 17 seasons, apart from taking 145 catches and making 37 knocks. He has batted at different positions over the years, but his days with RCB as a finisher in the last three seasons have been special. In a format increasingly ruled by power players, Karthik relied on his experience, game awareness and feel to set boundaries at will.
His 330 runs at a strike rate of 183 in 2022 earned him a call-up to the Indian team for the T20 World Cup, but it happened to be his last time in national colors.
He scored even higher this season, but despite being made available for the upcoming World Cup, he knew deep down that his comeback saga in Indian cricket was over.
Karthik has had his moments in his India career
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The Chennai-born cricketer was just 19 years vintage when he made his debut for India in an ODI against England at Lord’s Stadium in September 2004.
He announced his appearance on the massive stage with a spectacular kick by the captain of the opposing team, Michael Vaughan.
Three months later, he made his Test debut against Australia, but his international career could never take off due to Dhoni’s mediocre performances and promotion.
With Dhoni confident of playing in the playing eleven, Karthik was asked to open the batting during the 2007 tour of England and made a significant contribution to the team’s uncommon away wins in the Test series.
From 2010 to 2017, Karthik was in demand in the IPL world, but his stock in the national team dropped dramatically.
He bounced back after India’s defeat against Pakistan in the 2017 Champions Trophy final.
Between 2017 and 2019, Karthik played regularly for the Indian national team in the white-ball format. His unforgettable knocks include the iconic last-ball six that helped India seal the 2018 Nidahas T20 trophy in Colombo.
A few months later, he returned to the Test after eight years, but it was short-lived.
Karthik was seen as a sure bet in the 2019 ODI World Cup but, by his own admission, he was shocked to learn of his exclusion from the home series against Australia ahead of the ICC event in England.
The selectors unexpectedly brought him back for the World Cup, where he played only three matches, including the ill-fated semi-final against Recent Zealand.
The latest chapter in his comeback story came after a brilliant IPL in 2022, but like the previous occasions, Karthik couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity and managed only 14 runs in three innings during the T20 World Cup in Australia.
By his own admission, his career in India could have been much longer, but there was no shame in being overshadowed by someone like Dhoni.
The consistency that he lacked in international cricket was his friend in the IPL and his significant contribution was duly appreciated by his RCB teammates on Wednesday evening, including the great Virat Kohli, who was the first to praise his long career.
Karthik will soon return to the commentary box and will be seen playing in T20 leagues apart from the IPL.
