As the hammer drops for Dinesh Karthik, Royal Challengers Bangalore has signed him for 5.50 crore. Chennai Super Kings tried their luck in the race but dropped out at the closing minutes. Dinesh is looking forward to starting the new season with Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Dinesh Karthik, who has been with Kolkata Knight Riders since IPL 2018, said it’s difficult to choose a team for IPL 2022, but that playing for Chennai Super Kings, the four-time champions from his hometown, would be ideal.

Karthik has played for six different teams in the past, but has yet to play for MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings in the IPL’s 14-year history.

Indian wicketkeepers are in high demand, and despite not playing for India since the 2019 World Cup, Karthik has stayed in shape by competing in domestic games for Tamil Nadu. Karthik also scored a century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final earlier this year.

Karthik sees an opportunity as India continues to try out guys for the middle-order in limited-overs cricket.

Karthik claimed age is no longer a barrier for selection, noting the instances of Shikhar Dhawan, who is 36, and Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik and the recently retiring Mohammad Hafeez, who are both over 40.