Dinesh Karthik Surprisingly Picks Abhishek Sharma, Who Has Played Only 17 T20Is, in India’s All-Time XI

For the final spot in his all-time India T20I XI, Dinesh Karthik admitted he faced a tough choice, selecting Bhuvneshwar Kumar over Arshdeep Singh.

Dinesh Karthik Surprisingly Picks Abhishek Sharma, Who Has Played Only 17 T20Is, in India’s All-Time XI

Dinesh Karthik broke silence on the tragic stampede following RCB 2025 IPL win. (via Mint)

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Ex-India wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik picked his all-time XI, comprising the best Indian performers in the shortest format of the game. Karthik surprisingly picked Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy in his XI, despite the two having played only a few matches for the national team. 

Dinesh Karthik retired from playing in 2024, following which he joined RCB’s coaching staff as mentor and batting coach. A T20 maestro, he was the 4th Indian cricketer to have played over 300 matches in the shortest format. Karthik is also the first Indian to win a Player of the Match award in a T20I match, in 2006 against South Africa, and later went on to be a part of the 2007 T20 World Cup-winning squad. 

The 40-year-old named his all-time India T20I XI, first picking the two openers. Karthik paired world no. 1-ranked T20I batter Abhishek Sharma, and ex-India captain Rohit Sharma. Sharma’s inclusion is no surprise, as he is the country’s all-time top-scorer in the format with 4231 runs.

However, his decision to pick Abhishek raised queries, as he described the left-hander as a ‘monster’, despite him having only played 17 T20Is so far, where he has scored 535 runs at an average of 33.43. Karthik told Cricbuzz in an interview:

I’m going to start with the newest entrant…Terrific player at this format, Abhishek Sharma.Great player, great shots, but most importantly, an intent monster.

Dinesh Karthik then went on to pick Virat Kohli at no. 3, who he stated is the ‘greatest Indian batter of all time’, and current T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav at no. 4. He then named all-rounders Yuvraj Singh and Hardik Pandya, at number 5 and 6, respectively.

To captain the side, the 40-year-old did not hesitate to pick legendary Indian captain MS Dhoni, who was the captain of the 2007 T20 WC-winning squad, which Karthik was in fact, a part of. 

At No. 7, who is going to be the captain as well for me, MS Dhoni. Purely because of what he brings to the table in terms of death hitting and how he has absolutely made a mark for himself in winning close games.

He picked Axar Patel at no. 8, suggesting that the 31-year-old is one of the most underrated players. For the three bowlers, Dinesh Karthik first chose Varun Chakravarthy, who has been in impressive form over the past year and has picked up 33 wickets at an average of 14.57 in 33 T20Is so far. The 40-year-old then selected Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar as the two pacers to finish the playing XI.

Among the many players that Karthik left out from the all-time XI, Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal occupy the top spots, with the former also being India’s all-time highest wicket-taker in T20Is. Other players who could have been considered are KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, and R Ashwin.

Dinesh Karthik Breaks Silence on the Chinnaswamy Stampede After RCB’s Financial Aid Pledge

Royal Challengers Bengaluru mentor Dinesh Karthik spoke out for the first time since the team’s 2025 IPL triumph, extending his support for the victims of the tragic June 4 stampede. The stampede occurred outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, claiming 11 innocent lives. 

Dinesh Karthik all-time XI Abhishek Sharma
Dinesh Karthik surprisingly picked Abhishek Sharma in his all-time India T20I XI.(via Outlook)

Dinesh Karthik’s heartleft message on social media was shared on social media, as he extended his condolences to the families of the deceased. He also urged RCB fans to come together in support of the victims of the June 4 stampede.

Not just Karthik, but other members of the RCB team management, including head coach Andy Flower and director Mo Bobat also shared messages of remembrance. Here’s what Karthik said: 

My heartfelt condolences go out to all the families who lost loved ones on June 4. I can’t begin to imagine what you must have gone through.

Karthik’s statement comes just days after the franchise’s announcement that it will provide financial aid of INR 25 lakhs to the families of the deceased. Through its social media channels, RCB conveyed its grief and solidarity, while also revealing the creation of a new entity called ‘RCB Cares.’ The franchise specified that this aid is intended to demonstrate compassion and unity among the team’s fanbase.

In a related development, Chinnaswamy Stadium is set to host a cricket match for the first time since the stampede. The venue has been selected for the upcoming K. Thimmappiah Memorial Trophy. Previously, the stadium had lost its hosting rights for the 2025 Women’s World Cup after the tragedy.

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