My deepest gratitude and sincere thanks to all the fans who have made this feeling possible,” Karthik said in his retirement note shared on X. He last represented India during the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia against Zimbabwe. Karthik made his national debut at the age of 19 in a One-Day International against England at Lord’s. In Tests, Karthik has 1,025 runs to his name, which include a century against Bangladesh, from 42 innings.

“They just know what it takes to do well in big matches. In the lead-up to a game, there are so many thoughts going on. But the way they channel those thoughts and use that energy on the field is what makes them special,” Karthik said. Soon a moment to savour for the RCB fans unfolded, as the franchise’s marquee star and modern-day cricketing icon Virat Kohli embraced Karthik as he struggled to fight back his emotions. He made a switch to Punjab in 2011 and, thereafter, went on to play for the Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions, Kolkata Knight Riders and the RCB. A hyper-energetic presence in his early days, the fidgety streak gradually ebbed away as both his cricket and words acquired depth.

Among the millions that play the sport in our country, I consider among the lucky few to have had the chance to represent the nation,” Karthik added in his statement. “My parents have been pillars of strength and support over all these years, and I wouldn’t be what I am without their blessings. I also owe plenty to Dipika, herself a professional sportsperson who often put her career on hold to walk my journey with me,” he added. My parents have been pillars of strength and support over all these years, and I wouldn’t be what I am without their blessings. I also owe plenty to Dipika, herself a professional sportsperson who often put her career on hold to walk my journey with me. “My parents have been pillars of strength and support over all these years, and I wouldn’t be what I am without their blessings. I also owe plenty to Dipika (Pallikal), herself a professional sportsperson who often put her career on hold to walk my journey with me.

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• He has enjoyed numerous successful seasons in the IPL, but the 2013 and 2024 campaigns were particularly noteworthy for distinct reasons.

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• “My parents have been my pillars of strength and support over all these years, and I wouldn’t be what I am without their blessings.

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• “My parents have been pillars of strength and support over all these years, and I wouldn’t be what I am without their blessings. I also owe plenty to Dipika, herself a professional sportsperson who often put her career on hold to walk my journey with me.

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• Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik on Saturday (June 1) announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

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• As he walked back towards the dressing room, Karthik received a guard of honour from the RCB players.
• Cricket and cricketers, wouldn’t be the same without your support and good wishes,” Karthik concluded.

Notably, RCB head coach Andy Flower had hinted Karthik might play a few more T20 leagues before hanging up his boots. However, it seems the wicketkeeper-batter has decided to call time on his career despite being in good form with the bat and with the gloves. There have been numerous cricketers who have entered and exited the scene, yet few have achieved the eminence of the legendary Dinesh Karthik. Having commenced his career with Tamil Nadu in 2002, the wicketkeeper-batter steadily progressed, becoming a formidable force, particularly on challenging pitches, making his name as a master in tackling turning tracks with utmost ease. Earlier, speaking to Cricbuzz, Karthik had said that he had the physical ability to play for another three years but wasn’t mentally ready to continue his career as a professional cricketer.

However, he reinvented himself as a white-ball finisher, earning a national recall for the 2022 World Cup on the back of a stellar IPL season with RCB that year. In his 401 T20 appearances, Karthik retires with 7407 runs, including 34 half-centuries, at a strike-rate of nearly 137. In his 257-game IPL career, Karthik played for KKR, MI, Delhi Daredevils and Punjab Kings besides RCB, scoring a total of 4842 runs at an average of 26.32. “Of course, to all the fans and followers of our great game, a massive thank you! Cricket and cricketers, wouldn’t be the same without your support and good wishes,” Karthik concluded. Remarkably versatile, his prowess transcended formats, making him a cornerstone of the team across all formats.

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”Having given plenty of thought for sometime now, I have decided to move on from playing competitive cricket. I officially announce my retirement and put my playing days behind me as I square up for the new challenges that read lie ahead,” Karthik wrote on ’X’. Much like his long-time rival MS Dhoni, Karthik shared a collage of photos from his playing days with his retirement post.

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Internet salutes Dinesh Karthik after his retirement on 39th birthday

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Karthik has been involved in cricket broadcast shows and commentary in the past, and is expected to resume after drawing curtains over his playing days. India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has said that while Rohit Sharma’s ‘I am not retiring’ quip after the Champions Trophy final was very humourous, it also sent across a statement, asking critics and onlookers not to ponder over his retirement chances shortly. As Karthik walked back towards the dressing room, Karthik received a guard of honour from the RCB players. Karthik, who made his India debut in an ODI in 2004, played 26 Tests, 94 ODIs, and 60 T20Is. He was part of the World T20-winning team in 2007 and also won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013, both under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. Karthik last played an international match against Bangladesh during the T20 World Cup 2022 on November 2, 2022, but featured regularly in domestic tournaments for Tamil Nadu and in the Indian Premier League for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

The wicketkeeper-batter took to his official social media accounts to post a statement, announcing his decision to retire from professional cricket and pursue new opportunities. On Saturday, Dinesh Karthik posted his retirement note on social media, telling the world that it is time for him to bow out while recording his gratitude to all who supported him, be it family or the cricketing eco-system. Having lived in Kuwait during early school days because his father Krishnakumar worked there, Karthik, during his early days in international career, would be accompanied by his mother Padhmini, who was a regular at all his matches.

In IPL, Karthik represented various teams including Delhi Daredevils (DD), Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), Mumbai Indians (MI), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Gujarat Lions (GL) and RCB. He first walked into the public imagination with his airborne stumping of Michael Vaughan in England under Sourav Ganguly in 2004 and last played for India in the 2022 T20 World Cup under Rohit Sharma. His career got a second wind in the last six to seven years when he was always having a good IPL season here and there, especially whenever there would be an ICC tournament round the corner. He also thanked his wife Dipika Pallikal, a champion squash player in her own right with multiple Commonwealth Games and Asian Games medals.

Rohit didn’t have the best of times as batter or as captain in that duration, with India losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which was preceded by a home Test series whitewash against New Zealand. A close friend and a teammate for over 15 years, Dinesh Karthik reacted to the post-tournament press conference, speaking on Rohit’s personality on and off the field. “India, right now, is in a privileged and blessed place because of the assortment of cricketers it has across skillsets.