My thread on @DineshKarthik, many which you would be aware.

He debuted before Dhoni. He & Dhoni are the only two players from 2007 CWC playing in 2019 CWC. He was a reserve WK then, he is one now. Waited under his shadow. He wasn't a part of the squad in the WCs in between.

Along the way, DK has played with 436 ODI Cricketers (team mates & opponents). But interesting trivia, he has played two ODIs against Brian Lara before he retired.

He stumped @MichaelVaughan which was his first international dismissal as a WK for India.

When he was starting to settle down, enters MSD who with all his flamboyance took Cricketing world by storm. MSD never looked back and DK never found his way back to the team. He was recalled thrice, but circumstances, his batting or his keeping didn't fire.

He had a troubled personal life which he always tried to keep private while battling it all alone. His 5 year old marriage ended in 2012 when another Cricketer got involved with his wife. He found love again in Dipika Pallikal, ace squash player & married in 2015.

Each time he was not selected, he went to his Ranji Team, Tamil Nadu and played. He averaged more than 40 for 5 consecutive seasons for them.

In between, he was always a top pick for IPL teams. In 2014 DD bought for the season's second highest bid (12.5 crores).

RCB picked him next year for 10.5 Cr. In 2018, KKR reshuffled the entire team and Dinesh Karthik was named their new Captain. He led the team to the play offs in his debut season as Captain but lost there

He was always the second best man, always the second choice.

He debuted for India in 2004. After 15 years, over 15000 first class & List A runs, 3100 international runs, 5000 T20 runs, 868 catches and 157 stumpings later, he is selected for the national squad for CWC 2019 in England & Wales at the age of 33 years & 318 days.

#dineshkartik

And Dinesh Karthik debuts for India in World Cup match 15 years after debuting for India.

A man of determination and grit.

This thread finds a closure today.