Dinesh Karthik was embroiled into a controversy after he did not include the former Indian captain, MS Dhoni, in his all-time playing XI that he revealed during the Independence Day 2024.
MS Dhoni is, unarguably, one of the greatest cricketers and captains India has ever produced. So, the decision to omit his name from the playing XI, surprised fans around the world.
People did not believe that Karthik, who is a wicket-keeper himself, has not included one of the greatest ever wicketkeeper-batter in his all time playing XI. In his latest video on Cricbuzz, Karthik has apologized for not including MS Dhoni in his playing XI and called it as a mistake.
Karthik agreed that he had forgotten to add Dhoni’s name to his all-time playing XI and stated that Dhoni is an important figure for all the Indian fans. He added that his name is a must in the playing XI in all the formats.
“Bhai log. Bada galti hogaya (Guys I made a big mistake.) Genuinely it was a mistake. “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. Bu genuinely I didn’t think Rahul Dravid as a wicketkeeper,. Can you believe being a wicketkeeper, I forgot to have a wicketkeeper? It is a blunder,” Karthik said in a video posted on Cricbuzz.
He stated that he wants to make a change in his all-time playing XI and include MS Dhoni in his line-up.
“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 do is, Thala Dhoni in at 7. And he will be the captain of any Indian team that is there,” he added.
Dinesh Karthik’s Updated All-Time India XI
Dinesh Karthik includes MS Dhoni in his updated All-Time India XI (Image Credits: X)
In his All-Time India XI across formats, Karthik includes big names such as Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid to name a few. Rohit Sharma was picked as an opener, while the likes of Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh found their place in the middle-order.
Karthik picked two pacers, namely Zaheer Khan and Jasprit Bumrah, while Ashwin and Anil Kumble made the cut in the spin department.
Dinesh Karthik’s All-Time India XI: Rohit Sharma, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Ravindra Jadeja (MS Dhoni- the new addition), Ravichandran Ashwin, Anil Kumble, Jasprit Bumrah and Zaheer Khan.
