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The art of excelling across all three formats of cricket is an exceedingly rare talent, reserved for the elite few who possess an exceptional blend of skill, temperament, and adaptability. In the annals of cricketing history, luminaries like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah of India, alongside Pakistan‘s Babar Azam and England‘s Ben Stokes, stand as towering examples of this remarkable ability.
Insight from veteran cricketer Dinesh Karthik
Their mastery transcends the boundaries of Test, One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 (T20) cricket, showcasing not just their immense talent but also their astute understanding of the game’s varying demands and dynamics. Now, India’s veteran wicketkeeper and current Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) player in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Dinesh Karthik shared his opinion on who he considered as the most valuable player.
Karthik, known not only for his cricketing prowess but also for his insightful commentary, has been making waves with his articulate analysis on various international platforms. Despite his commitments with RCB, Karthik found time to engage in a detailed conversation about cricket with esteemed personalities Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton in the Sky Sports’ Cricket Podcast.
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Karthik’s perspective on most valuable cricketer
The conversation delved into the electrifying clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians (MI) in the ongoing IPL season, where SRH set a record-breaking T20 total of 277 runs which was almost chased by the Mumbai, followed by Delhi Capitals’ (DC) formidable 205 run in the losing cause while chasing 232 against MI.
Despite the batting onslaught, Hussain emphasized Bumrah’s brilliance, highlighting his pivotal role in Mumbai’s victory with figures of 2/22 in a high-scoring encounter. Karthik echoed Hussain’s sentiments, lauding Bumrah’s exceptional versatility across all formats. The 38-year-old further made a noteworthy observation regarding Jasprit Bumrah, hailing him as most valuable cricketer in the planet currently.
Brilliance across formats
Karthik emphasized the exceptional quality of Bumrah, noting his unmatched ability to perform across all three formats of cricket. The Chennai-born cricketer expressed his belief that no one of Bumrah’s caliber exists, capable of dominating in the same manner. Consequently, Karthik deemed Bumrah as the most valuable cricketer currently. He further highlighted Bumrah’s strength and proficiency in all three formats, asserting that he stands out among players in any skill set due to his remarkable dominance.
“That just tells you the quality of him. To be honest, I don’t think there is anyone of his calibre who can play all three formats and dominate the way he is. That’s why I think at this point, he is the most valuable cricketer on the planet. Karthik further said Because he (Bumrah) is playing all three formats he is strong and adept in all three formats. I can’t think of another player in any skillset who dominates it that much,” Karthik said.
