IPL: 5 players Royal Challengers Bangalore wish had stayed

#4 Dinesh Karthik

Pipped to take Dhoni's spot, RCB would warmly re-welcome Karthik

Tamil Nadu and India wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik has represented 6 sides in the Indian Premier League and is now set to captain his 7th side, Kolkata Knight Riders. Among the 6 sides he represented, it is fair to say he fared poorest at Royal Challengers Bangalore. Bought for an eye-opening price of 10.5 Crores, Karthik managed just 141 runs in 16 games at a strike-rate of 120.

Despite this, Dinesh Karthik has an impressive overall record of 2903 runs at a healthy strike-rate of 126. Specialist Indian wicket-keeper batsmen are a valuable commodity for any side. Royal Challengers Bangalore have had to make-do with part-time wicket-keeper batsman such as Robin Uthappa, AB de Villiers and KL Rahul which has cost them on plenty of occasions previously.

Furthermore, Kartik is beginning to show signs of the champion T-20 player he is with magnificent showings on the international level. Playing as a finisher, he would add teeth to the RCB middle-order allowing de Villiers to play his preferred number 3 role.