In a heartwarming moment that left fans emotional, veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik hinted at the end of his time on the cricket field in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) suffered a 4-wicket loss to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL 2024 Eliminator.
Despite a remarkable comeback with six consecutive wins after a slow start, RCB’s dreams of a fairytale season were shattered at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday. Karthik, who received an emotional guard of honour from his RCB teammates, was visibly moved as he walked off the field, marking a potential end to his IPL journey.
The official IPL handle shared a touching video of the moment, capturing the respect and admiration Karthik garnered from both teammates and fans. With chants of “DK… DK…” echoing in the stadium, the 38-year-old acknowledged the support with a round of applause.
Although Karthik has not officially announced his retirement from the IPL, the emotional scenes after the match hinted at a possible farewell for the seasoned player. With 4,842 runs in 257 matches, Karthik has had a stellar IPL career spanning various teams.
As the cricketing world awaits an official announcement from Karthik, fans and fellow players are left reflecting on the legacy of a player who has left an indelible mark on the IPL stage.