Dinesh Karthik --- Dropped from ODI Team

India’s 2nd choice wicket keeper, backup opener, backup middle order batsman, possible no.4 Dinesh Karthik is unceremoniously dropped from the Indian squad for the Australia tour of India. It wasn’t long ago that he was the first choice keeper to Zim when MSD had taken a break, and not too long ago India enjoyed the middle order success with DK’s support. But just when the main tire of an automobile come back from repairs DK was displaced from the team by in form and flamboyant Yuvraj Singh.

Now with Yuvraj losing some flab and owing to impact innings first for India-A and then in the Challengers trophy, selectors couldn’t ignore his knocked on the door. The Indian team selection is like a car that can only hold so many players. So if one person has to be let in, some has to go. The question arises, who has to get the axe. Rohit has done well as an opener and has given India the start they longed along with Dhawan. With Virat and Dhoni and Jadeja having sealed their spot, the battle was between CSK’s son Raina, fresh of the boat Rayudu and an ever so fickle minded DK.

Rayudu couldn’t possibly be dropped after what could be called a decent debut tour, more question would have been raised had been dropped. And to be fair the chap deserves some backing, for people like Rohit and Raina and Jadeja had enough backing before they struck GOLD.

Raina owing to his all round skills and the backing of his captain enjoys the extra cushion in the middle order, even though it has been ages since he has played a valuable innings after Jan 2013 against England. One of the key factors is that he makes big news in IPL and now in CLT20 giving us read selectors a pseudo sense of trustworthiness. But in essence he is yet another hardworking cricketer who relies of support either at the top or at he bottom.

DK as he is fondly called, has played in 15 ODI’s scoring 255 at 32 a piece at a healthy strike rate of 71 in 2013. The important thing to notice is that all 15 games have come in over seas testing conditions of England, West Indies and Zimbabwe. In the same time period and against same opponents Raina has scored 237 at 29 a piece. By shear statistics DK should have stayed. But cricket is more than just numbers.

Sometimes your versatility could cause your down fall, as there isn’t a specific role you demand. Like the Hornitos Plata Tequila TV Commercial, ‘Any’, DK can play any role, play as an opener, play in middle order or play as a keeper, play as a backup keeper and even play as a 12th man. He doesn’t define HIS role and hence fades away.

The real problem

The real problem with DK isn’t much as his versatility but his fickle mindedness, he often is termed as a quota player. He looses fizz far too early in the tournament. Be it CT13 or IPL or even CLT20, he starts of very well giving us the all is well assurance. But out of nowhere he throws his wicket and in the succeeding matches plays in his own shadow.

Wicket Keeping

MSD has set the keeping standards so high that the only person who comes close to his finesses is Saha. DK is flimsy to be honest; he looks agile and has hare like reflexes yet he misses the easier ones. He can pounce and pluck the mango on the top most branch but would fail to grab the low laying ones. 

Missing X-factor

Sometimes what goes against him is his X-factor which Raina and Yuvraj have; though all three many even out in terms of averages but the later two have this ability to take the game away from the opposition in matter of minutes. Both have the ability to tear apart the opposition in a matter of overs. Along with their batting and exceptional fielding they bring bowling to the table. May be an over here and there they have shown the ability to pick wicket when needed. So as a captain you do feel safe when his plan A goes for a toss. DK looses on that front.

Will a Raina or Yuvraj be more successful against an inexperienced Australian attack in India? Will they play the short rising 150 mph deliveries from Johnson? Or will India feel the pinch of leaving out a semi-reliable technically sound fickle-minded batsman? Only time would tell.

Till then we can only feel for DK.