Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik will feature in his maiden ILT20 season representing Sharjah Warrriorz. He replaces the Sri Lankan Kusal Mendis in the JP Duminy-coached side.
An IPL champion with the Mumbai Indians in 2013, Karthik was also a member of the Indian team that won both the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.
In recent years, Karthik was part of the leadership group, serving as the batting coach for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise, who won their maiden IPL title in 2025.
Coincidentally, at RCB in IPL 2025, Karthik worked closely with the big-hitting Tim David, one of the overseas players for the Sharjah Warriorz.
Hailing from Tamil Nadu, Karthik, who began his international cricket
career in 2004, is renowned for his abilities as a strong finisher. Usually seen as the aggressor in the final phases of a T20 innings, the former KKR captain’s six-hitting ability, never-say-die attitude, and penchant for scoring all around the wicket will further strengthen the Sharjah Warriorz’s batting unit.
In a career spanning two decades, Karthik has played 412 T20 games, batted in 364 innings, amassed 7,437 runs, with 35 half-centuries to his name, and a strike-rate of 136.66. In India colours, he has played 60 T20I matches, batted in 48, and scored 686 runs at a strike-rate of 142.61.
Karthik will team up with David, Sikandar Raza, captain Tim Southee, Johnson Charles, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, and Saurabh Netravalkar.
“I am very excited to be joining the Sharjah Warriorz team for the ILT20 tournament. I know they are a young team, aspiring to do some special things, and I am happy to be here. Sharjah is also one of those iconic stadiums one always wants to play at. And to be a part of the franchise Sharjah Warriorz, makes a dream come true,” Karthik said in a statement.
Head Coach JP Duminy stated, “Dinesh Karthik is one of the most experienced hands and an incredibly innovative mind when it comes to T20 cricket, and I am chuffed to have him in our corner for the upcoming edition of the DP World ILT20. The whole world has seen what he is capable of with the bat, and his explosive batting, dynamic personality, and immense experience will surely benefit the younger players significantly during the course of the tournament. I look forward to working with him closely.”
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