Sharjah Warriorz have turned to Dinesh Karthik as a late replacement for Kusal Mendis, confirming the 40-year-old Indian as part of their squad barely 24 hours before the DP World ILT20’s inaugural auction.
The move is straightforward enough. Mendis has opted for the overlapping Lanka Premier League, leaving a wicketkeeping vacancy the Warriorz felt needed a senior hand. Karthik ticks that box and a few others besides. He brings 400-plus T20 matches, more than 7500 runs and – perhaps just as valuable – a reputation for calm finishing under pressure.
“I am very excited to be joining the Sharjah Warriorz team for the DP World ILT20 tournament,” Karthik said. “I know they are a young team, aspiring to do some special things, and I am happy to be here. Sharjah is also one of those iconic stadiums one always wants to play at. And to be a part of the franchise Sharjah Warriorz, makes a dream come true.”
Head coach JP Duminy was equally positive. “Dinesh Karthik is one of the most experienced hands and an incredibly innovative mind when it comes to T20 cricket, and I am chuffed to have him in our corner,” he said. “The whole world has seen what he is capable of with the bat, and his explosive batting, dynamic personality, and immense experience will surely benefit the younger players significantly during the course of the tournament. I look forward to working with him closely.”
Those comments underline what the Warriorz think they are buying: know-how, tactical nous and, for good measure, a pair of wicketkeeping gloves. Karthik should slot naturally into a middle-order role and could yet double as a sounding board for power-hitter Tim David, a player he worked with when Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifted the 2025 IPL, Karthik serving as batting mentor on that occasion.
Since retiring from Indian domestic and international cricket in June 2024, Karthik has taken short-term deals with Bangla Tigers (Abu Dhabi T10), Southern Superstars (Legends League) and Paarl Royals (SA20). This UAE stint is his fourth overseas assignment and, if nothing else, confirms that fit, 40-something keepers who can still strike at 135 remain welcome on the franchise circuit.
Looking ahead, the ILT20 auction on 1 October should provide a few familiar names. Ravichandran Ashwin has listed himself at the highest base price – the only player to break the six-figure mark – while fellow India veteran Piyush Chawla has set a reserve of USD 40,000. Whether Karthik ends up facing his old Tamil Nadu team-mate is one subplot to watch.
The Warriorz, though, have already solved one headache. Losing Mendis’s top-order runs could have hurt; bringing in a seasoned finisher with gloves in hand feels a sensible, low-risk answer. If Karthik’s body holds up – he famously missed just two IPL games across 17 seasons – there is every chance the move pays off.
For now the franchise, and indeed the player, appear content with the late-notice arrangement. The real test comes once the tournament begins under Sharjah’s lights.
