Champions Trophy: Here's why Karthik should open for India

Dinesh Karthik turned 28 on 1 June and celebrated with 106 not out against Sri Lanka in the first of India’s warm-up games for the Champions Trophy. India, chasing 334 to win, was in a little trouble at 110 for 4, but Karthik and Virat Kohli added 186 as India eased home with six balls to spare. Yesterday, India was in even more trouble at 55 for 5 against Australia in their second warm-up game. Again it was Karthik who came to the rescue, this time with MS Dhoni as his partner. The pair put on 211 as Australia’s bowlers were pulverised to all corners of Sophia Gardens. Once again, Karthik remained unbeaten at the end, this time with 146 to his name at better than a run-a-ball as India went past 300 for the second time. His confidence was clear from the way he took on Australia’s bowling, whether driving on the up or playing the pull. [caption id=“attachment_844823” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Dinesh Karthik celebrates his hundred against Sri Lanka. AP[/caption] Karthik’s misfortune as a wicketkeeper has been to compete with Dhoni. The Indian captain has been remarkably durable behind the stumps and so Karthik has had to be content watching from the sidelines. But now his performances with the bat are making it impossible for India to ignore him. It was Karthik who was the Mumbai Indians’ most consistent batsmen in the initial stages of their IPL winning campaign this year, though his form did tail off towards the end. But it is not just the IPL where Karthik has performed. He was in considerable form during India’s first-class season. He was the highest run-getter in the Corporate Trophy and led the way for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy with 577 runs at an average of 64.11. Then, in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s 50-over domestic competition, Karthik managed a half-century in each of his five innings as he racked up 436 runs at 87.20. The problem though, is where to slot him in the batting line-up. Dhoni acknowledged both Karthik’s form and the dilemma of where to play him after beating Australia. “I think he has earned his place in the side and we’ll just have to see who misses out when we play against South Africa,” MS Dhoni said after the game. “I’d like him to play at the top of the order but we’ll [have to wait and] see.” Both of his knocks in the warm-ups suggest Karthik would benefit from having more overs to play rather than fewer. The choice of who to leave out then comes down to either of the openers or Rohit Sharma at no 4. Either option would give Karthik the opportunity to build an innings, an opportunity he has earned. Neither opener made runs in the warm-ups, nor did Rohit, but given Shikhar Dhawan’s remarkable debut 187 against Australia in the recent Test series, and his form in the IPL, he should keep his place. Murali Vijay, despite his two hundreds in the same Test series, was dropped by Chennai Super Kings in the IPL and his international ODI record is underwhelming – a high score of 33 and an average of 17.81 from 11 games. Karthik also has experience as an opener and would maintain the left-hand, right-hand balance that India seems to favour. While Rohit hasn’t exactly overwhelmed anyone either, his average of 30 is significantly higher than Vijay’s and he had an excellent IPL as well. Karthik told ESPNcrininfo he has made minor changes to his technique after working with his personal coach Prasanna Agoram, the South African national team’s performance analyst, over the last two years. India is entering a new era in the absence of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir at the top of the order. Given Karthik’s form, and his commitment to his batting, he has earned the right to compete for one of those places. Firstpost’s India XI for the opener against South Africa: Shikhar Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav