‘Dinesh Karthik should go for Champions Trophy’

Veteran Dinesh Karthik led by example by smashing a scintillating hundred (126, 91 balls, 14 fours and three sixes) and Tamil Nadu’s chairman of selectors S Sharath said Karthik should be on the flight to London for the Champions Trophy. “He has been outstanding. He has proved it time and again (his form) with sparkling performances. It would be a glaring omission if he isn’t in the team. It is as simple as it can get,” Sharath said.

The chairman of selectors said the self-belief shown by the players has been the turning point resulting in an exceptional domestic season. “The coaches and the players should be given credit for this. They (coaches — H Kanitkar, L Balaji and A Avinash) made the team believe that they can go the distance by overcoming any odds. They faltered in the Ranji but the way they bounced back to be joint toppers in the T20 league and how they won the Vijay Hazare and now Deodhar titles deserve 

praise,” Sharath added. 

The 44-year-old former TN captain said there is a lot of work to do ahead of the next season to add the Ranji Trophy title. “There is so much to do going forward.We need to have fast bowling reserves, strengthen our bench, have reserve openers and plug many more such gaps. With the kind of talent and the support that we have, we are sure of doing the right things to excel in the next season,” Sharath said. 

W V Raman @wvraman — Great stuff @ DineshKarthik @hrishikanitkar @TNCACricket on achieving the double.. Well played boys.. congrats on a good season..

Dr Madhu T @itsmadhu — Congratulations @TNCACricket on winning the #DeodharTrophy. Brilliant effort by team esp. @ DineshKarthik @vijayshankar260