I Was Wrong Dinesh Karthik Apologizes For Leaving MS Dhoni In His All-Time India XI
Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik admitted that not having MS Dhoni in India's all-time playing XI was a mistake.
New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik admitted that not having MS Dhoni in India's all-time playing XI was a mistake. On the 78th Independence Day, Karthik will reveal his all-time playing XI by selecting players from across the generations who can represent the Men in Blue across all formats. However, Karthik not only dropped Dhoni's name but also did not take a wicketkeeper in his favor.
“Brother Log. Bada galati hoga (Oh I made a big mistake.) Indeed it was a mistake,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
Rahul Dravid was theorized to take the gloves for the team in Karthik's XI. “I only found out when the episode came out. So many things were happening that when I put on this 11, I forgot the wicketkeeper. Luckily Rahul Dravid was there and everyone thought I was going with a part-time wicketkeeper. But honestly I didn't think Rahul Dravid was a wicket keeper, can you believe in being a wicket keeper, I forgot being a wicket keeper? This is a mistake,” explained Karthik.
“And for me, let's be clear. Thala Dhoni is a lock not only in India but in any format. I think he is one of the greatest cricketers to have ever played. If I had to redo that team, one change I would make is Thala Dhoni in year 7. And he will be the captain of any Indian team there,” Karthik added.
Karthik's all-time India XI in the format selected includes big names and top talent across all formats. The lineup includes:
Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma as openers, followed by Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar have played the important roles of No. 3 and No. 4 respectively. Virat Kohli, at number 5, adds more depth and strength to the batting order.
He also included 2007 and 2011 World Cup man of the match Yuvraj Singh and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
India's two most successful spinners in the spin department are Ravichandran Ashwin and Anil Kumble, while the pace attack was led by Jasprit Bumrah and Zaheer Khan. Karthik named Harbhajan Singh as the 12th player in recognition of his significant contribution to Indian cricket.
Despite this mix-up, Karthik's selection underscores the respect Indian cricket has for its greats and the depth of talent the country has produced over the years.
