Ajay Jadeja says Dinesh Karthik shouldn't be in T20 World Cup squad

Former India batter Ajay Jadeja has said that Dinesh Karthik should not be included in the India squad for T20 World Cup 2022 later this month.

While speaking on Fancode, Jadeja said he would rather have Karthik as a commentator.

“Now if you want to play the way I have heard them...aggressive then you have to pick differently. If Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma walks in, you need Dinesh Karthik at all cost," Jadeja said.

"He is your insurance. But if you don't have either of them then Dinesh Karthik has no work here. But yes I would not put Karthik there, he can have a seat beside me. He is very good as a commentator. But there, in the team, I would not pick him."

Jadeja also said the selectors should have picked Mohammed Shami instead. However, Shami has not played any T20I match for India since the 2021 T20 World Cup last year. He is also not a member of India’s squad for the 2022 Asia Cup.

Regardless, Karthik has been named to the squad for the T20 World Cup 2022. The selectors have maintained that they would not change the decision.

Karthik has scored 192 runs in 14 innings since returning to Team India after the 2022 Indian Premier League. He is one of the fan favourites to join the squad.

Karthik's inclusion in Asia Cup

Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth has said he doubted Karthik's inclusion would be of any use. During an interview with Star Sports, Srikkanth said that Karthik was included only as a reserve batter.

“No.8 would have been Shami. I had picked Shami in my team. He's not there. So No. 8 would be Chahal. Medium pacers have to be Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh. Now I feel they will bring in Deepak Hooda as an extra floater. So between seven and eight, it could be Jadeja or Hooda. Looks like it,” Srikkanth said.

“That's the best combination. Because if you pick three spinners then you will get into problem. 3 pacers, three spinners - that would be a bit too much. Dinesh Karthik will probably be a reserve batsman. I don't know whether he will be in the XI. I have my doubts there.”

On the other hand, former wicketkeeper Kiran More disagreed with Srikkanth. He said Karthik still had some significance despite the squad already having Rishabh Pant as the wicketkeeper.

“In my XI I have Dinesh Karthik. If he sits out then I wouldn't have taken him. I will play him. You have given him the finisher's role and he has played well and has won matches for India," More said.

"Pant has scored runs in IPL but not elsewhere. He has struggled a bit. But he is a superb player. And Karthik, woh mere team me baithega hi baithega. I wouldn't go with Hooda. I will play Karthik, then Hardik and Jadeja.

Throughout the 2022 IPL, Karthik has recorded over 200 in strike rate. His most recent achievement was 41 runs in 19 balls in the West Indies T20I series, where he also won the Player of the Match Award.