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Dinesh Karthik's cricket career, spanning three different decades, came to an end with the 2024 IPL, which he signed off with an excellent tally of 326 runs in 15 matches at a strike-rate of 187.36. The wicketkeeper-batter has been there and done that from the very beginning of India's T20I journey all the way back in December 2006. In this conversation with Cricbuzz, he talks about the evolution of the format and his transformation within that, the fierce resilience that defined his long career, why he opted not to play another cycle of the IPL and lots more...Former cricketer Dinesh Karthik. Has the new reality sunk in yet and do you remember what was going through your mind when your head hit the pillow after that last game against Rajasthan Royals?I don't think it's sunk in yet. There's lots happening in the house, there's a couple of weddings and all so I've been pretty busy with that. Other than that, it's okay.Even though you planned for it a lot, still there are a few feelings that come. It's a tad bit emotional, a tad bit relief. I was just thinking I have to catch a flight, probably this is [the last time]. In the lead up to that, because I was kind of preparing myself like 'oh maybe this is the last practice session', 'oh this is the last time I am going to practice wicket-keeping', 'oh this is the last time I am playing at this ground.' So these sort of moments just kept playing in my mind a lot. In a way I was mentally prepared for whenever it had to happen. But I was so much more prepared for 18th May [last league game vs CSK]. Once that part of the tournament was crossed, I was extremely elated and very, very happy and grateful. The 22nd [Eliminator vs RR] came around pretty fast, but overall it was a mixed feeling of relief, emotion and the fact that it has all come to an end.During this memorable IPL 2024 season, there was a point where Rohit Sharma was picked up by the stump mic sledging you saying 'abhi World Cup khelna hai' [There's a World Cup still to play]. You had kept the door open for a call-up too. Given your form, the Impact Substitute rule and players like MS Dhoni playing into their 40s did you at all consider carrying on?I think I am physically very much prepared to play for another three years. Especially with the Impact Player rule, it becomes that much easier. So in terms of playing the sport, easily I think I could've pushed for another cycle. I don't have too many issues in my life. Touch wood, I have never missed a game because of an injury through my three decades. I've been blessed that way. I was never worried about my body or my fitness. It was all about the mental side of things, whether I'll be able to push as much in the lead-up to the tournament, whether if I don't play as many matches, will I be okay with it. I am a big believer of whatever I look to do, I try to give it 100% commitment and do whatever I can to be the best in that. And I thought from hereon for me to play X amount of matches is going to be hard.Mentally pushing myself for so long in terms of doing everything in the lead-up, even if I falter a little bit I wouldn't be... even though from the outside people wouldn't know, but internally I would find it very hard and I would be living with guilt. I don't want that. At the end of the day, it is a professional sport and people are paying you and they expect a certain performance and that comes with responsibilities. I want to live up to those responsibilities internally to all the benchmarks that I have set. When I thought about that, I said, 'No I don't think I'll be doing that.' Add to the fact that I have a little bit of a young family, so spending time with them [is important].Those are all small factors, and I think the big one was whether I can do it for the next three years, because even if I go into this cycle and I play one year, I think it is a tad bit unfair on the team because they've picked me at a certain price point. If I don't play the cycle or I walk into the tournament knowing that I won't finish the cycle, then it is a little bit unfair on the team because they could have used that resource on a player they know would be there for all three seasons. Taking all that into account, I thought this is the time [to retire]. And most importantly, the fact that no matter what I do, I cannot play for India again was very evident. So it was the last nail in the coffin.You were the guy that never went away. Dhoni hits 148 in Vizag, but DK is back as a Test opener. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir become Test openers, but DK is back for Champions Trophy 2009. It looks like DK is gone again after 2010-11, you have this incredible IPL 2013 and come back for CT 2013. You think DK is done after that, but you're back with a bang at the Nidahas Trophy. In 2023, you think it is finally done after a bad IPL, but you return and turn heads again, at 38. Where did this resilience come from?I am internally very, very motivated. Intrinsically extremely motivated and I've lived by the mantra that if you are the best, no one can stop you. So for me, people picking me or not picking me didn't make a difference. I just wanted to be the best in the world, so I just kept pushing myself. I had that as a goal for myself and I used to literally wake up everyday wanting to achieve that goal. That's how I am. When I played for Tamil Nadu, I wanted to be the best for Tamil Nadu. When I played for India, I wanted to be the best for India. I kept pushing myself. Whenever I got an opportunity, I tried and did whatever I did. That's why whenever I got dropped, people would say, 'Oh you got lesser chances, oh other people got a longer rope.'I just believed if I get one chance, I should make the most of it. I never cribbed. I was always thinking like I got a chance but I missed it. I got a tournament here, but I probably could have done better in this match. And that kept me going. That was how I was built. At times maybe I was hard on myself, but I'd rather be that way and be happy, than think the other way and get frustrated.All my friends keep making fun of me saying I've made the most comebacks in the history of Indian cricket. Maybe you guys can find out how many comebacks I've made and tell me... But there are a few that I remember. The one against South Africa [in 2010] where we lost the first Test in Nagpur and the second Test was in Kolkata which we won. I remember I was in Kanpur and I was getting ready for a Ranji Trophy match and I got a call the day before. From Kanpur I had to drive down to Lucknow, Lucknow to Delhi and Delhi to Kolkata. I came and just watched the match for five days. I was just a back-up to MS. So I had such mini-comebacks too [laughs]. And then after the Tests, I played the ODI series, where Sachin scored 200.null
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