Dinesh Karthik, former Indian wicketkeeper-batter, has issued a public apology for a glaring omission from his all-time India XI across formats – the absence of legendary captain MS Dhoni. Karthik, while compiling his dream team for a Cricbuzz episode, realized his oversight only after receiving feedback from viewers.
In a heartfelt confession, Karthik admitted, “Bhai log, bada galti ho gaya (Guys, I made a big mistake). Genuinely, it was a mistake. I realized only when the episode came out.” He explained that amidst various considerations, he overlooked the need for a wicketkeeper, inadvertently leading viewers to assume that Rahul Dravid would be filling that role.
“Can you believe being a wicketkeeper, I forgot to have a wicketkeeper? It is a blunder,” he added, highlighting the absurdity of the situation.
Paying tribute to Dhoni’s iconic career, Karthik declared him “one of the greatest cricketers to have ever played the game.” He emphasized that if given the opportunity to re-select his team, Dhoni would be an automatic choice for the No. 7 spot and would undoubtedly be the captain, regardless of the format.
The initial all-time India XI that Karthik had selected, which sparked the controversy, featured a blend of India’s finest across formats, including: Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Anil Kumble, Jasprit Bumrah, and Zaheer Khan, with Harbhajan Singh as the 12th man.
Despite the unintentional blunder, Karthik’s team selection highlights his immense respect for the legends of Indian cricket and underscores the depth of talent the country has produced over the years. His candid apology and subsequent acknowledgement of Dhoni’s unparalleled contributions to the sport have been welcomed by fans and experts alike.
