T20 World Cup 2024: Irfan Pathan reveals why India shouldn't pick Dinesh Karthik in World Cup Squad

Dinesh Karthik is in paramount batting form in the IPL 2024. Despite RCB's horrible outing, Karthik has been the standout batter for them along with Virat Kohli.

Dinesh Karthik announced this IPL 2024 will be his swansong in the tournament. And the Indian player is in tremendous form, which was vivid again, as he scored a 35-ball 83 against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday. Although it came as a losing causeway, Karthik's valiant effort was not unnoticed by the pundits.

As India are set to play the T20 World Cup following the IPL, there are already some questions about whether the veteran should be picked as a finisher. His ability to finish the innings with a flurry can be a massive asset for India.

Former CSK player Ambati Rayudu said that Karthik must get his dream ending with the Indian team as he was playing under the shadow of MS Dhoni for the entirety of his career.

"I have seen him from a young age. He is very talented. He has always remained under the shadows of MS Dhoni and hence did not get consistent opportunities. Probably, one last time, he could become a match-winner for India, and he would have that golden opportunity to end his career with the World Cup and help India win that trophy. I feel India should take him to the World Cup," Rayudu said in the post-match discussion on Star Sports.

But former India player Irfan Pathan didn't concur with his co-panelist and depicted the reasons why Karthik must not be picked. He says the World Cup is a different ball game and the bowler's quality will be different. Also he took the cue form Rayudu's shadow theory and said it won't be fair on youngsters like Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson.

"There is a lot of difference between facing an uncapped player and a seasoned bowler. You just said he played under the shadows of Dhoni. So now that Dhoni is not there, you want him to play and put Pant in his shadows. Is that right? Had Pant not been in form, I would have agreed. But I feel I would have Samson ahead of Karthik now. We must put aside the current players, who are in the scheme of things, because another player is in form now," Pathan said.

"See, I must praise Dinesh Karthik. He is looking in top form. But Indian cricket is on a different level. The World Cup is a different level. There you don't get uncapped players bowling to you. There are no impact-player rules in the World Cup. There are only 11 players. So playing there is a different pressure altogether," he added.

It is to be seen whether Karthik gets picked for the India team or not. The veteran was part of India's World Cup squad in IPL 2022 but failed to make any mark. Although a section of fans and pundits want him on the flight for West Indies, it looks unlikely so far.