Indian cricket team’s senior wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik is suspected to play in India’s next T20I World Cup match against Bangladesh on Wednesday due to a tightness in his back.
Dinesh Karthik was unable to play the last five overs wicketkeeper role in India’s previous match against South Africa due to a groin tightness and walked off the field.
If Dinesh Karthik does not play in this match, then another wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant, who is included in the team, can get a place in the playing XI.
After Karthik was taken off the field due to pain on Sunday, Pant played the role of wicketkeeper till the end of the match against South Africa in the 16th over. Very cold weather can also be the reason for Dinesh Karthik’s back stiffness. It is not known how severe Kartik’s back stiffness is, but it usually takes three to five days to recover from even mild pain.
A senior BCCI official said on condition of anonymity that ‘Karthik felt pain in his back, we do not have information about the severity of his back cramps. The medical team is working to get him fit because hot compresses and massages provide quick relief. So don’t consider him out of competition. The tournament has been disappointing for Karthik so far. He made one run against Pakistan and six runs in 15 balls against South Africa.’
Dinesh Karthik has been given the role of a finisher in the team but he failed to cope with the pace and bounce of the pitch at the Aptus Stadium in Perth. He was criticized for not contributing much in the 52-run partnership with Suryakumar Yadav.
The Indian coaching team has also faced some criticism for keeping an aggressive player like Pant out of the team. Rishabh Pant had great success in Australia in Test matches.