Haren
Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik admits that not having MS Dhoni in his India’s all-time playing XI was a “blunder”. On 78th Independence Day Karthik would reveal his Indian team by picking players over the generations who can represent The Men in Blue in all formats. However, in the side, Karthik has not only omitted Dhoni’s name but also did not pick a wicketkeeper in his side.
“Bhai log. Bada galti hogaya (Guys I made a big mistake.) Genuinely it was a mistake,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
There were speculations that Rahul Dravid would take the gloves for the team in Karthik’s XI.”I realized only when the episode came out. There were so many things happening that when I put this 11, I forgot the wicketkeeper. Luckily Rahul Dravid was there and everybody thought I was going with a part-time wicketkeeper. But genuinely I didn’t think Rahul Dravid was a wicketkeeper, Can you believe being a wicketkeeper, I forgot to have a wicketkeeper? It is a blunder,” Karthik clarified.
“And for me, let’s be clear. Thala Dhoni is a lock in any format, not only in India. I feel he is one of the greatest cricketers to have ever played the game. If I had to redo that team, one change I would make is Thala Dhoni in at 7. And he will be the captain of any Indian team that is there,” said Karthik further.
Karthik picked dashing opener Virender Sehwag to partner up Rohit Sharma and former Indian coach Rahul Dravid at three. Run machines Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli would slot in at four and five. He has also picked up Yuvraj Singh in his team who was the Man Of the Tournament in the 2007 and 2011 World Cups and Ravindra Jadeja as all-rounders.
The bowling comprises off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and leg-spinner Anil Kumble. Current Indian ace-pacer Jasprit Bumrah and 2011 leading wicket-tacker Zaheer Khan were picked as the pacers in the side.
