TV
Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik revealed how MS Dhoni transformed him into a chameleon, compelling him to adapt to various roles in order to secure a place in Team India after Dhoni’s meteoric rise. Although Karthik made his international debut three months before Dhoni in 2004, establishing himself in the squad became increasingly difficult as Dhoni quickly emerged as India’s premier wicketkeeper-batter.
In a recent conversation, Karthik reminisced about Dhoni’s early impact, describing how the explosive power-hitting prowess took everyone by surprise and firmly established his place in the team within a short span. He recalled the buzz during a series in Kenya, where everyone was talking about a player who introduced an unprecedented style of big hitting, drawing comparisons to legendary all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers.
“I hadn’t seen much of him before, but during that Kenya series, Dhoni became the talk of the town. The sheer power with which he cleared the boundary was something the cricketing world hadn’t seen before. Some even compared his six-hitting to Gary Sobers. Although Dhoni’s technique was unique, the force he generated was extraordinary,” Karthik said.
At that time, India was relying on Rahul Dravid as the wicketkeeper. However, Dravid eventually decided to focus solely on his batting due to the physical strain of keeping wickets. Karthik briefly stepped in, likening his role to a cameo appearance in a film, while the lead was always destined for Dhoni. Once Dhoni arrived, he didn’t just impress the Indian selectors – he dominated the scene, making rapid waves in international cricket.
Karthik further admitted that Dhoni’s swift rise forced him to embrace adaptability and take on challenging roles, often ones that others wouldn’t dare, just to remain relevant in the Indian setup.
