In a recent episode of his show on Cricbuzz, India’s former wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik addressed a controversy that emerged after he revealed his all-time India playing XI. The controversy stemmed from the surprising omission of MS Dhoni, one of India’s most celebrated cricketers and former captain, from the lineup. This unexpected exclusion left many cricket enthusiasts and Dhoni’s fans stunned and disappointed.
The incident occurred on the occasion of India’s Independence Day last week when Karthik shared his all-time India XI. Given his own experience as a wicketkeeper-batter, Karthik’s decision to leave out Dhoni, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest wicketkeepers and captains in cricket history, raised eyebrows.
In response to the uproar, Karthik took to the latest episode of his show to clarify the situation. He explained that the omission was not intentional but rather a genuine mistake. Karthik admitted that while compiling his XI, he inadvertently forgot to include a wicketkeeper, which led to Dhoni being left out of the team. He expressed his regret, acknowledging the significance of Dhoni’s contributions to Indian cricket and how much his presence means to fans.
“Bhai log, bada galti hogaya (Guys, I made a big mistake). Genuinely, it was a mistake,” Karthik said during the show.
Karthik went on to explain that he only realized the mistake when the episode aired. “There were so many things happening that when I put this XI together, 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 of Rahul Dravid as a wicketkeeper. Can you believe it? Being a wicketkeeper myself, I forgot to include one! It’s a blunder,” Karthik admitted.
Dravid, who occasionally kept wickets in limited-overs cricket, was not intended to fulfill that role in Karthik’s lineup. Instead, Karthik had chosen Dravid to bat at No. 3, with current India captain Rohit Sharma and Virender Sehwag as the opening pair. This decision resulted in Sachin Tendulkar batting at No. 4, followed by Virat Kohli at No. 5. Despite the star-studded batting order, the omission of Dhoni, particularly given his reputation as a finisher and leader, left the lineup feeling incomplete.
“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 to include Thala Dhoni at No. 7. And he would be the captain of any Indian team that exists,” Karthik further clarified.
Karthik’s Revised All-Time India XI
In his revised lineup, Karthik ensured the inclusion of MS Dhoni, who he placed at No. 7 and assigned the captaincy. The team also featured Yuvraj Singh and Ravindra Jadeja as all-rounders, providing balance and versatility. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble, and fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Zaheer Khan formed a formidable bowling attack.
Karthik’s Original XI (Without MS Dhoni):
- Rohit Sharma
- Virender Sehwag
- Rahul Dravid
- Sachin Tendulkar
- Virat Kohli
- Yuvraj Singh
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Anil Kumble
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Zaheer Khan
Karthik’s Revised XI (Including MS Dhoni):
- Rohit Sharma
- Virender Sehwag
- Rahul Dravid
- Sachin Tendulkar
- Virat Kohli
- Yuvraj Singh
- MS Dhoni (Captain & Wicketkeeper)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Anil Kumble
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Zaheer Khan
Karthik’s revision comes as a relief to many fans who consider Dhoni’s contributions to Indian cricket unparalleled. As one of India’s most successful captains, Dhoni led the team to victories in the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy, solidifying his place as a cricketing legend.
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