The level of competition to earn a spot on the Indian cricket squad is as cutthroat as it has always been. In spite of the large number of matches that the Indian team participates in modern days, the senior squad almost always has fresh faces to consider adding to it. Dinesh Karthik, a veteran wicket-keeper batsman, has urged the team management to promote Deepak Hooda higher in the batting order and give the uncapped Jitesh Sharma an opportunity at No. 6 as Team India continues to struggle with the problem of finding a ‘finisher’ in T20I cricket. Karthik is the wicket-keeper batsman for Team India.
Hooda has performed exceptionally well in the Indian Premier League, particularly at positions No. 3 and No. 4, but he continues to face challenges as a finisher for the Indian squad, sometimes being placed at No. 6 or even lower than that at certain points.
Dinesh Karthik is unsatisfied with the role that has been assigned to the all-rounder and believes that the team should give him an opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities at number three before making a choice to move on from him.
“Being consistent is the most difficult thing to do when you’re 5, 6, 7, especially when you’re 6 and 7. So even though Deepak Hooda has performed exceptionally well at the number three spot, they believe that he is still capable of performing adequately in the positions six and seven.
My gut tells me that this is going to be a significant obstacle for him to overcome. With the exception of his time spent with the Lucknow Super Giants, he has spent the majority of his IPL career batting in the middle order, either at position 5 or 6, and he has not enjoyed much success in either positions.
He imagines himself to be a batter in the top order. Moving from Baroda to Rajasthan allowed him to rediscover who he was as a person.
It’s one of his favourite parts of the game. He enjoys taking the challenge head-on. But at the moment, in the just-completed series against Sri Lanka, he performed admirably for his position at No. 6, and it was a fantastic opportunity for him “During their conversation on Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik shared his thoughts with Harsha Bhogle.
Regarding the position at number six, Dinesh Karthik is of the firm belief that the young batsman Jitesh Sharma would be thrilled to be given the opportunity to play in that position, given that it is the one in which he has developed himself the most.
“Jitesh Sharma is a home-grown batsman who plays the No. 6 position. Because he is someone who enjoys batting there, he would take a lot more pleasure in the current circumstances.
Both him and himself have practised batting at that location. But I don’t think he will have any role in this series. Now it is Deepak Hooda.
Dinesh Karthik was asked about his opinion on the matter, and he responded by saying, “But I do think if he is under pressure they should give him the opportunity at No. 3 before they decide to move on from him.”
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