Indian keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik announced his retirement from professional cricket on Saturday (June 1). The Tamil Nadu-based star player took to his social media handles to announce his decision to step aside from all forms of games. In a heartfelt note, DK, as most fans call him, thanked his parents, coaches, and wife, Dipika, for being the pillars in his life and contributing immensely to his success.
Of all the Indian players who debuted before 2005, Dinesh was the last of the active ones, with MS Dhoni, who also debuted in 2004, announcing his international retirement in 2020.
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A domestic giant, DK scored 9,620 runs in 167 First-Class matches. In his international career that spanned almost two decades, Dinesh played 26 Tests, 94 ODIs and 60 T20Is, scoring 1,025, 1.752 and 686 runs, respectively. Although he scored just one international hundred, 129 vs Bangladesh in Tests, DK hit 17 fifties across formats.
Starting from his ODI debut against England at Lord’s in 2004, where he affected perhaps his most-watched stumping (of Michael Vaughan), Karthik saw a lot of ups and downs in his playing career. Following a slump after his international debut, DK returned to reckoning a couple of years later, playing in India’s first T20I game against South Africa in December 2006 in Johannesburg.
The right-handed keeper-batter was also part of the 2007 T20 World Cup in South Africa, which India won, and the 2013 Champions Trophy winning campaign in England. Though he was a youngster and barely played games in the 2007 T20 WC, Karthik was India’s mainstay at number four six years later.
The famous Nidahas Trophy six and beyond
Although the fans remember him for the countless times he contributed to Indian cricket, the most famous one came during the Nidahas Trophy final against Bangladesh when he smashed a last-ball six to win the multi-team tournament for the Men in Blue.
Ironically, its video on YouTube is among the most-watched cricketing videos available.
Besides, DK, till now, was among the handful of Indian cricketers who played all seasons of IPL since 2008. Lately, he represented the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2024, scoring 326 runs from 15 matches. Midway into the tournament, DK announced his decision to step aside from the cash-rich league.
Meanwhile, DK last played for India during the T20 World Cup tie against Bangladesh in Adelaide in 2022.
DK will resume his new job as a cricket commentator and broadcaster.
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