Dinesh Karthik Feels ‘Quality Bench Strength’ Is The Reason Behind India Moving To The Top Of ICC T20I Rankings

Dinesh Karthik is very happy after India has become the no.1 T20I side in the world after defeating West Indies in the recent T20I series. The Rohit Sharma-led India side jumped to the top spot in the latest ICC T20I team rankings after crushing West Indies with a 3-0 whitewash in the three-match T20I series. Dinesh Karthik also feels that quality bench strength is the reason behind India’s success in the shortest format.

Although India went through a horrible show in ICC T20 World Cup 2021 with a group stage exit, the team has now bounced back with a back-to-back whitewash against New Zealand and West Indies in the last two T20I series. With 269 ratings, India has displaced England as the top T20I team in ICC rankings. England too has 269 ratings but falls short 10 points than India.

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India Has A Great Bench Strength: Dinesh Karthik

While speaking in the latest review of The ICC Review, Dinesh Karthik said that it feels great to be the world’s no.1 team in the world. The wicketkeeper-batsman also said that India’s strong bench strength is the reason behind India’s success in the shortest format.

“Who doesn’t want to be world No.1 even if it is for some period of time? Because other teams will play matches and then India plays more matches post the IPL so that could change. But for the moment, knowing that Team India is the No.1 T20 team in the world is I think a very, very good feeling,” Dinesh Karthik said.

“I think it is the quality of players. When you talk about good teams over a period of time, they always talk about the fact that bench strength needs to be very important, and India has great bench strength.

“If you take this series, they have rested Virat Kohli, they have rested Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah. But in spite of that, they have produced an astounding 3-0 series victory against West Indies, which is a very good T20 side,” Dinesh Karthik further said.

In India vs West Indies T20I series, India was short of some crucial players like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja. Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli were also rested in the 3rd T20I clash. However, India managed to clean sweep the series.

Newcomers like Suryakumar Yadav, Harshal Patel, Venkatesh Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi gave an outstanding performance for the team against West Indies. Now, India will take on Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series starting today (February 24).

Dinesh Karthik Names India Player Who Has Been “An Absolute Revelation”

Calling Harshal Patel “an absolute revelation” Dinesh Karthik, who last played for India in the 2019 ODI World Cup in England, said the medium pacer is good to watch.

Veteran India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik heaped praise on young Indian cricketers Venkatesh Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, and Harshal Patel. Calling Harshal Patel “an absolute revelation” Karthik, who last played for India in the 2019 ODI World Cup in England, said the medium pacer is good to watch. Patel made a comeback to the Indian side for the three-match T20I series against West Indies, which India won 3-0. The right-arm pacer who picked up five wickets in three outings against West Indies, impressed with his bowling especially in the death overs.

“It’s just good to watch Harshal Patel – he has been an absolute revelation. So I think, the guys coming in are grabbing their opportunities with both hands and that’s always a good sign,” Karthik said in the latest episode of The ICC Review.

Harshal, who was bought for a whopping Rs 10.75 crore by RCB in IPL 2022 auction, will look to continue the good work in the T20I series against Sri Lanka. He bowled only two overs in the series opener in Lucknow.

Talking about Suryakumar Yadav and Venkatesh Iyer, Karthik said: “The guys coming in new have really grabbed on to their places. Suryakumar Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer.”

India will need another sweep against Sri Lanka to maintain on top of the T20I rankings.

“Who doesn’t want to be world No.1 even if it is for some period of time?” Karthik said. “Because other teams will play matches and then India plays more matches post the IPL so that could change. But for the moment, knowing that Team India is the No.1 T20 team in the world is I think a very, very good feeling.”

“I think it is the quality of players. When you talk about good teams over a period of time, they always talk about the fact that bench strength needs to be very important, and India has great bench strength,” Karthik added.