Dinesh Karthik, a former Indian wicketkeeper-batter, recently talked about how the success of his long-time teammate and renowned captain MS Dhoni compelled him to change like a chameleon. Karthik described how Dhoni’s success affected his own career and motivated him to look for positions in the starting lineup.
Notably, in 2004, the Tamil Nadu native made his debut for his country three months ahead of Dhoni. But after Dhoni made his debut, he quickly adjusted to a novel approach that yielded rewards right away. During an A tour in Kenya, Dinesh Karthik recalled that teammates had been talking about a hitter whose six-hitting was being compared to Sir Garfield Sobers.
“I hadn’t watched him play very often. However, one player in particular caught everyone’s attention during that A series in Kenya because he introduced something novel. He struck the ball with a force that many claimed they had never seen before. He was even being likened by some to Gary Sobers, who was famous for his enormous sixes. Despite having a completely different style, MS Dhoni was hitting the ball with more force than anyone had ever seen. At the India Today Conclave South 2025, Dinesh Karthik stated, “That was the buzz at the time.”
I learnt a lot from MS Dhoni: Dinesh Karthik
In order to safeguard his primary batting duties, Rahul Dravid wanted to move away from the part-time wicketkeeping role that India was using at the time. After that, the squad looked for a specialised keeper-batter. Dinesh Karthik had a few opportunities, but Dhoni quickly took over as the team’s captain.
Rahul Dravid was the wicketkeeper for India at the time. At one point, though, Dravid replied, “Boss, I just want to concentrate on my batting.” Trying to keep wickets is putting a lot of strain on my body. The team then began searching for a suitable wicketkeeper. I filled in for a little while, like a cameo in a film. However, Dhoni was always destined for the major part. And when he got there, he not only impressed India but also blew everyone away. He quickly became well-known in international cricket as well,” Dinesh Karthik continued.
The 40-year-old, however, has consistently taken on jobs that many people shun, particularly the finisher position at No. 6 or 7, which he handled excellently during the final five years of his career. He attributes his ability to understand the game, back strengths, and maintain composure under duress to Dhoni.
“You have to examine yourself and ask yourself, ‘What can I do to bring out the greatest side of myself?’ when someone like that comes along. I so started to resemble a chameleon. I would return to Tamil Nadu and ask, “Sir, may I open?” if there was an opening slot. Just to get a spot on the squad, I would score runs as an opener. In a similar vein, I would ask to bat in the middle order if there was a spot available for India; I’m constantly looking for methods to get into the team.
The hardest thing for me, though, was keeping that position. I put so much pressure on myself that I occasionally failed to perform what was truly required. I discovered during that journey how vital it is to adjust to whatever comes your way, but more crucially, how important it is to have resilience and determination. Throughout the last five years of my career, I consistently did things that most players would find uncomfortable, such as batting at No. 6 or 7. However, I accepted that responsibility and succeeded by utilising my strengths. I learnt a lot from MS Dhoni, frequently in indirect but profoundly influential ways,” he said.
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