Dinesh Karthik completes 250 IPL appearances: Decoding his stats
Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has accomplished a major milestone as he has become just the third player to complete 250 matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match in IPL 2024 marked his milestone. Notably, the RCB star has been in sublime form this season, which is reportedly his last in IPL. Here is more.
Third player to get this feat
Karthik became just the third player after MS Dhoni (257) and Rohit Sharma (250) to complete 250 IPL appearances. He has been a part of the tournament since the inaugural edition in 2008. The 38-year-old currently owns 4,742 IPL runs at 26.64 with his strike rate being 134.98. He has pummeled 22 fifties. Also, Karthik has bagged 134 catches and affected 36 stumpings.
Karthik belongs to this elite list
Karthik is among only seven players to have featured in every season of the IPL since the inaugural edition in 2008. MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Wriddhiman Saha, and Manish Pandey are the others on this elite list. It must be noted that Karthik has missed just two matches in 17 seasons. He debuted with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals).
Karthik has been a part of six IPL teams
IPL 2024 is Karthik's third season with RCB in this stint. He represented the Challengers in the 2015 competition as well. He has been a part of five other IPL teams namely Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals 2008-10, 2014), Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings - 2011), Mumbai Indians (2012-13), Gujarat Lions (2016-17), and Kolkata Knight Riders (2018-21).
A look at his numbers for RCB
In the past couple of seasons, Karthik has finished several games for RCB. In 46 innings of the franchise, he has mustered 837 runs at a stunning strike rate of 163.79. He has three fifties in RCB colors. Meanwhile, Karthik has been in sublime form in IPL 2024, having recorded 226 runs at 75.33 as his strike rate is a stunning 205.45.
