Decoding Dinesh Karthik’s 250 IPL Appearances: A Statistical Analysis

Veteran cricketer Dinesh Karthik has achieved a significant milestone in his career by becoming only the third player to complete 250 matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2024 marked this milestone for Karthik, who has been in sublime form this season.

Karthik joins the elite company of MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma as the only players to reach this feat. Since his debut in the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008, Karthik has amassed 4,742 runs at an average of 26.64 with a strike rate of 134.98. He has also scored 22 fifties and taken 134 catches along with 36 stumpings.

Notably, Karthik is among the select group of seven players who have featured in every season of the IPL since its inception. The other members of this exclusive club include MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Wriddhiman Saha, and Manish Pandey. Karthik has only missed two matches in his 17-season IPL career, debuting with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals).

Having played for six different IPL teams over the years, Karthik’s versatility and consistency have been evident. In IPL 2024, he has been a key player for RCB, showcasing his batting prowess with 226 runs at an impressive strike rate of 205.45. With his exceptional performance and milestone achievement, Karthik continues to leave a lasting impact on the IPL stage.