Dinesh Karthik set to participate in Legends League Cricket
What's the story
Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter, Dinesh Karthik, has announced his decision to feature in the upcoming edition of the Legends League Cricket (LLC). This news comes just a day after fellow batter Shikhar Dhawan announced the same. Karthik retired from all forms of cricket following the 2024 Indian Premier League season. He was part of the RCB side that lost the Eliminator to Rajasthan Royals.
New chapter
Karthik's statement on joining Legends League Cricket
Karthik expressed his excitement about joining the LLC, stating "Playing at the Legends League Cricket is definitely something I am looking forward to after my retirement. I am up to the task both mentally and physically and look forward to playing the brand of cricket I have always enjoyed." He also thanked his fans for their constant support and promised to entertain them once again on the field.
Warm welcome
LLC co-founder welcomes Karthik to the league
Raman Raheja, the LLC co-founder, welcomed Karthik to the league. He said, "We are very excited to have Dinesh Karthik join us. His flair and his penchant to finish matches and entertain the crowd will undoubtedly add value to the Legends League Cricket." The upcoming LLC season will kick off in September 2024 with an auction set for August 29 in New Delhi.
Career
Karthik played for India across formats
Karthik represented Team India across all three formats for over a decade. In 26 Tests, he scored 1,025 runs at 25 (100s: 1, 50s: 7). He last played in the longest format in 2018. The versatile player also played 94 ODIs, scoring 1,752 runs at 30.20 (50s: 9). He featured in the 2019 ICC World Cup. Lastly, he played 60 T20I matches, scoring 686 runs at 26.38 (50s: 1).
IPL legacy
A look at Karthik's IPL journey
Karthik represented six Indian Premier League teams in his career, having captained Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and Kolkata Knight Riders in between. His captaincy record reads 21 wins, 21 losses and one tied match. Karthik played 257 matches in the IPL (KKR, MI, Delhi, Punjab, Gujarat Lions and RCB), scoring a total of 4,842 runs at an average of 26.31. He smashed 22 half-centuries.