“You’re Done” – Dinesh Karthik Reveals How Ravi Shastri Ended His Test Career
Dinesh Karthik reveals how Ravi Shastri told him his Test career was over after poor form in England 2018.
Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has revealed how his Test career came to an abrupt end after the second match of the 2018 England series.
Speaking on the Sky Sports Podcast, Karthik shared that he was dropped after the Lord’s Test, and it was then-coach Ravi Shastri who gave him the news in a blunt fashion.
Karthik had made a return to the Indian Test side after eight years, playing against Afghanistan in June 2018. He was then picked for the England tour but failed to deliver.
In the first Test at Edgbaston, he scored 0 and 20. Things got worse at Lord’s, where he managed just 1 and 0 as India went on to lose the match by an innings and 159 runs.
After the second Test, Rishabh Pant was brought in to make his debut, replacing Karthik behind the stumps.
“Nasser ended his career at Lord’s in 2004, and I did too,” Karthik said, recalling the famous retirement of former England skipper Nasser Hussain.
“The only difference was that he went and knocked on the coach’s door, saying, ‘I think I’m done.’ In my case, the coach (Shastri) told me, ‘Don’t bother coming for the next Test, I think you’re done.’”
The moment was tough, but Karthik said it with a smile on the podcast. His honest take gave fans a rare insight into how careers can end suddenly in international cricket.
After his final Test at Lord’s, Karthik continued playing domestic cricket and featured in the IPL. His last first-class appearance came in the 2020 Ranji Trophy for Tamil Nadu.
