I feel ready for the tournament: Karthik

Fortunately for the wicket keeper-batsman, his latest comeback is for a tournament he loves, especially the warm-up fixtures prior to it. He scored centuries in both practice games – against Sri Lanka and Australia – ahead of the 2013 edition, and seemed all set to score another one against Bangladesh before he retired out on 94 from 77 balls. The knock may or may not give him a place against Pakistan on June 4, but Karthik was refreshingly candid on its importance given the crossroads his career is in. 

“I saw this game as an opportunity to showcase my skill and it was nice to get some time in the middle. I feel ready for the tournament now,” he said after India’s 240-run win. “For me obviously it was an important match. I guess the likes of captain and coach are watching me bat, and (for them) seeing where I stand is very important. It’s important that whenever I get the opportunity, I try and do the best that I can.”

Apart from the broader viewpoint of his career, Karthik needed that knock after managing only a nervous nine-ball duck in India’s first warm-up match against New Zealand. Karthik struggled to get bat on ball in that game, making some wonder if he’d yet again let go of an opportunity. “In the last game, I was a little nervous going in,” he admitted. 

“Even though Virat (Kohli) tried his best to calm my nerves, it was a little difficult. I was back in the blues after a long time, so I guess I was very over-excited probably. It was one of those days where the bowler and the keeper were playing and I was just standing in between not doing much and getting beaten,” he said.