Match 25 of the IPL 2024 edition saw the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by seven wickets in pursuit of 197 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Thursday (April 11). Opting to bowl first, Hardik Pandya & Co. restricted RCB for 196 for 8 despite fifties from Faf du Plessis (61), Rajat Patidar (50) and Dinesh Karthik (53). Jasprit Bumrah’s 5 for 21 stood tall for MI before Ishan Kishan’s 34-ball 69 and Suryakumar Yadav’s 19-ball 52 took their side home in 15.3 overs.

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During the RCB innings, Karthik provided the much-needed late flourish for Bengaluru with his blistering 23-ball 53, laced with 5 fours and 4 sixes. While he was in the middle, former MI skipper Rohit teased him hilariously with a comment on T20 World Cup 2024 selection. 

“World Cup Khelna Hai, World Cup (He is looking to push for the World Cup selection. He has to play the World Cup),” Rohit was heard saying on the stump mic. Here is the clip of the funny banter clip between the Indian captain and Karthik –

Sharma ji to dinesh karthik- worldcup khelna h worldcup 😂😂
rohit and stump mic recording never ending story 😂😂#MIvRCB #RCBvMI #IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/CSefv5hzCi

— rAvI RaThOrE (@Ravi_rathore060) April 11, 2024

Karthik last played for India during the 2022 T20 World Cup, in Australia. He forced his way back into the Indian team following a sensational run in the domestic circuit and that year’s IPL (for RCB). However, he didn’t create any such impact in the T20 WC Down Under. Since then, he has not made an appearance for the national side. However, he continues to be an active player in the domestic circuit, for Tamil Nadu, and has also made a name for himself as a commentator.

Karthik, who is playing his last IPL in the ongoing edition, has started the new season with a bang. So far, he has 143 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 190.67, including plenty of impactful cameos. 

With many wicketkeeper-batters eyeing a place in the T20 WC spot, it will be interesting to see if the Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection committee springs a surprise by including Karthik. All the participating teams have to reveal their provisional squad by early May. The T20 WC will kickoff on June 1, soon after IPL 2024, and will be co-hosted by West Indies and USA.

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