After gracing the cricketing world for two decades, former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik announced his retirement from all forms of competitive cricket on his 39th birthday. Karthik's retirement had been anticipated after Royal Challengers Bangalore's elimination from the Indian Premier League, and he chose this significant day to make his decision official.
Throughout his illustrious career, which spanned three formats and 180 matches, Karthik amassed 3463 runs for his country. Among his feats, he scored a solitary Test century and 17 half-centuries. His wicketkeeping skills were equally impressive, with 172 dismissals to his credit, primarily behind the stumps but also including a few in the outfield.
Karthik's introduction to the national scene was marked by his iconic airborne stumping of Michael Vaughan in England in 2004 under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly. His last international appearance was in the 2022 T20 World Cup under Rohit Sharma. In the intervening years, he played under the leadership of Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Virat Kohli.
Reflecting on his journey, Karthik expressed gratitude to the coaches, captains, selectors, and support staff who had made his cricketing adventure enjoyable and fulfilling. As he looked ahead, he acknowledged the new challenges that awaited him beyond the realm of competitive cricket.
