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In the past 4-5 years, India has seen many wicket-keepers come and go without establishing themselves successfully in the National Team. A young and agile wicket-keeper named Dinesh Karthik was drafted into the Indian team during the 4th Test against Australia last year at Mumbai, after his successful stints with Tamil Nadu and the India U-19 team. Till date, this promising 19-year old has been a part of the Indian Team for 5 Tests and 2 One Dayers.

With just a few days left for the all important Pakistan Series, Cricketfundas.com's Ashwat Ramani caught up with Dinesh Karthik on the 24th of February and here's what Dinesh had to say:

Dinesh, you got your break into Test Cricket against Australia during the 4th Test at Mumbai last year. How did it feel?

I was really happy. To be frank, yes I was expecting a call during that time and when I came to know regarding my selection for the Mumbai Test, it was really unbelievable. I was really very excited and eager to get my first cap.

How tough was it considering the fact that you had guys like Parthiv Patel and MS Dhoni competing with yourself for the wicket-keeper’s spot?

Yeah it was tough. But I believe that good competition always brings the best out of you. You tend to put in that extra effort which is required for you to get onto the top. So I am happy that I could get through such talented keepers into the Indian Team.

Talk us through your early days in Cricket.

Well, I started by playing Under-13 for Tamil Nadu, then I played for the Tamil Nadu U-16 team and then graduated into the Ranji Squad. My coach was Mr. Senthil Nathan in the MRF Cricket Academy. He always pointed out the mistakes in me and helped me correct my flaws.

Did Wicket-keeping come naturally to you?

Yeah, it’s been my passion since I started playing Cricket. I’ve always wanted to keep wickets for my country and I am very happy to do so presently. My favourite wicket-keeper is Adam Gilchrist and I’ve always looked up to him as my role model.

Talking about your Domestic stints, you scored your 1^st First Class Century against Railways in the semi-final of last year’s Ranji Trophy which was followed up with a wonderful century against Mumbai in the finals. Talk us through those innings.

Yeah, both were quite good. The one against Mumbai was in difficult conditions, and we had lost many wickets when I went in. I enjoyed that particular 100 just because of the difficult conditions and I was a bit sad towards the end for not winning the Trophy for my team.

Your Debut in the One Dayers saw you pull of a mind-blowing stumping of the English Captain Michael Vaughan. Talk us through that dismissal.

Yeah, that was my very first dismissal in the One Day format of the game, and I couldn’t have got a better batsman out. Vaughan was playing well during that time and that particular ball he stepped out and the ball was drifting towards the leg side. I collected it properly and just flicked it on to the stumps. It was a good dismissal and quite a memorable one.

Has it become a necessity nowadays for a wicket-keeper to be a very good batsman?

Well yes, definitely. The team expects you to bat well because a wicket-keeper raises the standard by batting well. It’s always good to be batting well and same applies for a wicket-keeper.

How difficult has it been keeping to the likes of Kumble & Harbhajan when compared to the domestic level spinners?

Yes, it’s been quite a challenge for me. It’s been good and very positive. It always brings the best out of me and I am very happy for that. You have to practice hard to face the likes of such quality spinners and that’s what is important.

We haven’t seen much of your explosive batting in the International Level as in the Domestic Level. Any reasons why?

I don’t know. May be I haven’t been capitalizing on the chances that I‘ve got till now.  But I am looking to do well in the forthcoming matches.

How hard are you working for a spot in the One Day Squad and when can we see Dinesh Karthik in the One Day Team?

I am working quite hard. It’s basically that, at the end of the day you’ve got to perform and that’s what matters the most. Hopefully in the near future I’ll make it to the One Day Team.

What do you think about the new physio Mr. John Gloster?

John’s been very good. He is very friendly and a very warm person. I am having a good time with him and I am getting used to his type of training.

Finally, any message you want to give to young budding wicket-keepers?

Yeah, just work hard. Believe in yourself and you will definitely do well in the future.

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