Personal Information
Full Name: Krishna Kumar Dinesh Karthik
Nickname: DK
Profession: Cricketer (Wicket-keeper & Batsman)
Teams: Indian National Team, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Jersey Number: #21
Date of Birth: 1st June 1985
Age: 33 Years (as of the given details)
Birthplace: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Nationality: Indian
Religion: Hinduism
Height: 170 cm (1.70 m or 5’7″)
Weight: 65 kg (143 lbs)
Parents: Krishnakumar (Father), Padma (Mother)
Spouse: Dipika Pallikal (Indian Squash Player)
Coach: Robin Singh
Net Worth: Not Known

Cricket Career Statistics

Batting Performance

Format	Matches	Innings	Runs	Highest Score	Average	Strike Rate	50s	100s	200s
Test	26	42	1025	129	25.0	49.28	7	1	0
ODI	94	–	1752	–	–	–	–	–	–
T20I	32	–	399	–	–	–	–	–	–

Bowling Performance

Format	Matches	Innings	Runs Conceded	Wickets	Economy	Average	Strike Rate	5-Wicket Hauls	10-Wicket Hauls
Test	26	0	0	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0	0

Early Life and Journey to Cricket
Dinesh Karthik was born on 1st June 1985 in Tiruchendur, Tamil Nadu. He enjoyed spending part of his childhood period living in Kuwait before making his return to India. His father’s name was Krishnakumar. The father had a great love for cricket and played the game at first-division level. But family constraints spelt doom for his aspirations of becoming a cricketer.

To see that son excelled in the sport, Krishnakumar started introducing Dinesh into cricket early. He made him practice for fast leather ball throws to develop dexterity in reflexes.

Dinesh moved into age-group cricket with a bang, getting a berth in the Tamil Nadu Under-14 team in 1999. He was very soon playing for the Under-16 side. His wicket-keeping was not up to the mark; however, he could not be denied as far as batting was concerned.

In 2001, he moved in to Under-19, but his season was abysmally poor, as he managed to score just 133 runs from seven games. However, he made a strong comeback with big knocks of 227, 126, and 235 against Goa, Hyderabad, and Andhra Pradesh, respectively.

Domestic Cricket Career
Dinesh Karthik made his first-class debut during the 2002-03 Ranji Trophy season. He scored a crucial 88 against Uttar Pradesh in his second match and accumulated 179 runs in five matches at an average of 35.80. However, his form dipped in the later matches.

The 2003-04 season proved to be a breakthrough year for Karthik. He amassed 438 runs at an average of 43.80, including two centuries. His excellent wicket-keeping skills, with 20 dismissals, further strengthened his reputation. His crucial knocks of 122 in the semi-final against Railways and another century in the final against Mumbai helped him secure a place in the 2004 Under-19 World Cup squad.

2004 Under-19 World Cup
Karthik didn’t have an exceptional tournament, apart from a brilliant 70-run knock off 39 balls against Sri Lanka, which helped India reach the semi-finals. However, India eventually lost to Pakistan in the semis.

From 2008-09, he was at his peak in first-class cricket. His consistency led to him being appointed as Tamil Nadu’s captain in the 2009-10 Ranji Trophy season.

International Cricket Career
Dinesh Karthik made his ODI debut on 5th September 2004 against England, followed by his Test debut against Australia on 3rd November 2004.

Despite showing glimpses of brilliance, his performances were inconsistent. Unfortunately, with the rise of MS Dhoni, Karthik’s chances in the national team diminished significantly.

Best Test Series: India’s Tour of England 2007
With Virender Sehwag dropped, Karthik was given the role of Test opener. He performed exceptionally well, emerging as India’s highest run-scorer in the series with 263 runs at an average of 43.83, including three half-centuries. His efforts helped India secure a historic 1-0 series win.

2013 ICC Champions Trophy
Playing at number four, Karthik played a crucial role in India’s title-winning campaign. He struck a fine half-century against the West Indies off just 54 balls, leading India to victory.

2014 Asia Cup
With MS Dhoni rested, Karthik got an opportunity in the middle order. However, he failed to capitalize, with his best score being 23 against Pakistan.

After MS Dhoni’s Test retirement in 2014, Karthik had a chance to reclaim his spot. However, Wriddhiman Saha’s superior wicket-keeping skills ensured he remained India’s preferred choice.

IPL Career
Dinesh Karthik has been one of the consistent performers in the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the years.

2008-2010: Started with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) for ₹2.4 crores.
2011-2012: Played for Kings XI Punjab.
2013: Joined Mumbai Indians and had a stellar season, scoring 510 runs at a strike rate of 124.
2014: Bought back by Delhi but moved to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2015 for ₹12.5 crores. However, he had a disappointing season, scoring just 141 runs in 16 matches.
2018-Present: In 2018, he was appointed captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and had a brilliant season, scoring 498 runs in 16 matches at an average of 49.80.

Lesser-Known Facts About Dinesh Karthik
His real name is Krishnakumar Dinesh Karthik, and his teammates fondly call him DK.
He made his first-class debut in 2002 against Baroda, batting at number 8. In just his second match, he played a match-saving knock of 88* against Uttar Pradesh.
During his international debut against England in 2004, he initially dropped a catch of Michael Vaughan but later made an outstanding stumping.
On 1st December 2006, India played its first-ever T20I against South Africa, where Karthik’s unbeaten 31 off 28 balls won him the Man of the Match award, making him the first Indian to achieve this feat in T20I history.
Dinesh Karthik’s journey has been full of ups and downs, but his contributions to Indian cricket, particularly in the shorter formats and domestic circuit, have been significant.