ICC Champions Trophy 2017: Five reasons why Dinesh Karthik is the ideal replacement for Manish Pandey

Brings an air of innovation

India finally have someone who can execute unorthodox shots and unsettle the bowler

In an era of switch hits, ramp shots, scoops and reverse sweeps, India's batting line-up is surprisingly orthodox. While there is little doubt about their batting credentials or hitting ability, the air of unorthodoxy is surprisingly absent in India's batting line-up.

The likes of Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh are more likely to use placement and power rather than innovation to get their runs. For all of their undoubted talent, they don't plant the seed of doubt in the bowler’s mind about what shot they are going to play next, for everything is fairly orthodox.

The addition of Dinesh Karthik certainly ensures that that box is ticked off as well. For someone who has a solid technique and the power to clear boundaries, the 31-year-old makes the most of his bag of tricks and pulls out shots when the bowlers least expect it.

He did it in IPL 2017 as well, on more than one occasion. Innovation is always welcome, especially in this largely orthodox Indian batting line-up.