Team India batsman Dinesh Karthik, set to bid farewell to his IPL career, contemplates international retirement
As per reports, veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik of Indian cricket team Dinesh Karthik is set to end his IPL career after playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore this season. The 17th season of the IPL, which is set to begin on March 22 with the defending champions Chennai Super Kings taking on RCB in Chennai, is likely to be Karthik’s last. The 38-year-old is also likely to announce his retirement from international cricket soon.
A BCCI source said on condition of anonymity, “This 2024 edition will be Dinesh Karthik's last IPL. He will decide his international retirement after the IPL.”
He last represented India in the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022, but he has been an integral part of the RCB set-up for the last two seasons after being bought for 5.5 crore at the auctions that year.
Karthik, who represented six franchises (Daredevils from 2008–14, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings–2011), Mumbai Indians from 2012–13, Gujarat Lions from 2016–17, Knight Riders from 2018–21, and Royal Challengers from 2015–2022–present), is one of the most capped players in the IPL. With 242 appearances, he stands at No. 3 in the list behind MS Dhoni (250) and Rohit Sharma (243). He has missed just two IPL games in his entire career, of which his franchise has been a part.