Some of Karthik’s most prolific years in T20s came towards the end of his career when he transitioned into a lower-order finisher. (PTI Photo)
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik is set to expand his T20 portfolio by making his first appearance in UAE’s DP World ILT20. Karthik has been signed up by Sharjah Warriorz for the upcoming season of the league. The team had revealed Karthik as a replacement for Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis ahead of the league’s first-ever player auction on October 1.
“I am very excited to be joining the Sharjah Warriorz team for the DP World ILT20 tournament,” Karthik said in a statement. “I know they are a young team, aspiring to do some special things, and I am happy to be here. Sharjah is also one of those iconic stadiums one always wants to play at. And to be a part of the franchise Sharjah Warriorz, makes a dream come true.”
Warriorz head coach JP Duminy said that he is looking forward to working with Karthik into their set-up. “Dinesh Karthik is one of the most experienced hands and an incredibly innovative mind when it comes to T20 cricket, and I am chuffed to have him in our corner,” Duminy said. “The whole world has seen what he is capable of with the bat, and his explosive batting, dynamic personality, and immense experience will surely benefit the younger players significantly during the course of the tournament. I look forward to working with him closely.”
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Karthik had retired from India and international cricket in June 2024. Since then, this will be his fourth stint as a player in franchise cricket outside of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Karthik has been part of the Bangla Tigers in the 2024 Abu Dhabi T10, Southern Superstars in the 2024 Legends League, and Paarl Royals in the 2025 SA20.
Some of Karthik’s most prolific years in T20s came towards the end of his career when he transitioned into a lower-order finisher. He has played 412 matches so far, scoring 7537 runs at an average of 27.01 and strike rate of 136.66. In the IPL, he played for six teams, which included leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He also was among the fittest players in the IPL, having missed just two matches across 17 seasons.
