Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has opened up on the moment he first realised MS Dhoni was destined to change the face of Indian cricket. Speaking about their time in an ‘A’ series in Kenya, Karthik revealed how Dhoni’s raw power and unique technique left everyone in awe.“I hadn’t seen him play much but during that A series in Kenya, everyone was talking about one player, because he brought something new,” he told India Today.
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“The power with which he hit the ball was something people said they hadn’t seen before. Some were even comparing him to Gary Sobers, known for those massive sixes.” Karthik admitted that although Dhoni’s batting style wasn’t conventional, the sheer force with which he struck the ball set him apart. “MS Dhoni had a very different technique, but he was hitting the ball as hard as anyone people had ever witnessed. That was the buzz at the time.”At that stage, India were using Rahul Dravid as a makeshift wicketkeeper to balance the team combination. But as Dravid sought relief from the gloves to focus on his batting, the selectors began searching for a long-term solution.
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“Back then, India were using Rahul Dravid as the wicketkeeper but Dravid had reached a point where he said, ‘Boss, I just want to focus on my batting. My body’s going through a lot trying to keep wickets.’ So the team started looking for a proper wicketkeeper. I stepped in briefly like a guest appearance in a movie but the lead role was always meant for Dhoni. Once Dhoni was handed the gloves, he didn’t just impress Indian selectors, but quickly became a sensation on the international stage. Karthik summed it up by saying, “When he arrived, he didn’t just impress India, he completely swept everyone off their feet.”The rest, as cricket fans know, is history — Dhoni went on to become one of India’s most successful captains and finishers, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire.