Veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, after being out of Team India for almost three years, said that he is enjoying every moment of his second stint with the Indian team. Karthik has returned to the Indian team for the ongoing five-match T20I series against South Africa, and will also be part of the squad for two T20Is against Ireland later this month.

Ahead of the fourth T20I against Proteas in Rajkot, Dinesh Karthik said his dream of playing for India has kept him active for a decade or more. He said that for almost three years, I have been watching from outside. I can see how special it is to be a part of this team. I am enjoying every moment here and am very grateful. Everyday I dream to paint in the national colors, wear his jersey and do something for the country.

Dinesh Karthik said that this is what has been going on inside me for a decade or more. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has shared a video of the conversation with Karthik on social media. Karthik has so far scored 1*(2), 30*(21) and 6(8) in all three T20 Internationals. South Africa won the first two matches and took the series 2–1. India defeated them by 48 runs in the third match at Visakhapatnam.

Both the teams will now face each other in the fourth T20 match in Rajkot on Friday. The 37-year-old made a comeback to India with a stellar Indian Premier League season with Royal Challengers Bangalore. He played the role of a finisher and was instrumental in taking RCB to the playoff stage of IPL 2022. Karthik scored 330 runs in 16 matches at an average of 55.00 and a strike rate of 183.33. This was his best season of IPL in terms of average and strike rate.