‘I padded up in 2nd or 3rd over but…’ – Dinesh Karthik recalls India’s thrilling win against Bangladesh in Nidahas Trophy final

India’s veteran wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik recalled the incident during the 2018 Nidahas Trophy final against Bangladesh. Chasing a total of 167 runs, India were reduced to 133 for 5 and needed 34 off the last two overs. Karthik scripted a memorable victory for the Men in Blue by smashing 29 runs off just 8 balls and hitting the winning six in the last ball of the match.

In a podcast by the Bangalore Franchise of the Indian T20 League, Karthik revealed that he padded up in the second or third over of the Indian inning but was made to sit by the skipper Rohit Sharma until the 18th over when Manish Pandey got out.

“The backstory of the game was that we played the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka had won their first two matches in the league phase. It was a tri-nation tournament where each team had to play each other twice. In the first two games they won and had one foot in the final. It so ended up happening that they ended up losing their last two matches and rather badly to Bangladesh. Then they ended up losing out on a chance to the final,” said Karthik in the podcast.

‘Indian bowlers did a great job’ – Karthik

Karthik also acknowledged the Indian bowlers for their performance in the match and added that Bangladesh were dominating in the match.

“The first half was pretty much decent as the Indian bowlers did a great job. The second half came and they were way ahead of us. They were dominating us and we were struggling. So it came to a stage where there were 2 overs remaining and we needed 34 runs. I was padded up to go. I padded up in the second or the third over, waiting to walk out. I kept on standing up to walk out and Rohit told me, not now. There was a wicket in the 15th over. I was sure that it was my turn to walk out in the center,” he added.

“Rohit once again made me sit and in the 18th over, it was Manish Pandey who got out. Eventually, I went to the center. Two overs and 34 runs mean that you will obviously have to try and go at as many balls as you can. I started hitting and the fans brought out the Naagin Dance and we ended up winning the match,” he concluded.