"Dinesh Karthik Fights Back Tears: Emotional IPL Farewell"

Dinesh Karthik Fights Back Tears as IPL Retirement Confirmed, Virat Kohli's Emotional Hug, RCB's Gesture Lead Farewell

Dinesh Karthik's Retirement: Led by Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru Gave DK an Emotional Farewell After RR Knocked Them Out of IPL 2024

After another year of falling short, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru players felt the weight of their loss. Being eliminated from IPL 2024 by the Rajasthan Royals also marked the end of Dinesh Karthik's remarkable journey in the league. It was his final game in an RCB jersey, or any franchise's jersey. Although Karthik didn't make an official announcement, the post-match scenes made it clear. He had retired from IPL.

Dinesh Karthik Got a Guard of Honour from RCB Players

The handshakes with the RR players were stronger. The hugs from Dhruv Jurel and Kumar Sangakkara were warmer. The walk to the dressing room seemed endless. On Wednesday, time stood still for DK at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. But the kindness from his teammates and opponents continued as he slowly walked toward the boundary line.

RCB's Icon and Former India Captain Virat Kohli Walked Up to Karthik and Embraced Him

Karthik, a strong man, fought back tears. The "DK, DK" chants provided the perfect backdrop. Watching the RCB players let him lead them off the field was touching.

Karthik Took Off His Gloves and Acknowledged the Fans

The fans stood to applaud. It was fitting that his last wave was with the keeping gloves in hand and not the bat. Always a keeper first, Karthik deserved every bit of praise he received.

Dinesh Karthik Gets Emotional Farewell from RCB and RR Players

So what if he couldn't end RCB's long wait for an IPL trophy? He gave the franchise and its fans hope in the last three seasons like few had managed.

In many ways, these were Karthik's best years in the IPL. At 35, he reinvented himself as a finisher when many didn't think he could find a new team after being released by Kolkata Knight Riders. His performances in IPL 2022 - 330 runs at a strike rate of 183.33 - were so impressive that they brought him back into the Indian T20I side.

It Was Karthik's Second Stint with RCB

He played in 2015 after being picked up at the auction for ₹10.5 crore. But had a tough time with the bat, scoring only 141 runs in 16 matches. Giving up is never an option for the man from Tamil Nadu. He kept coming back, continuing to be one of only seven cricketers to play in every IPL edition since 2008.

Karthik finished his IPL career with 4,842 runs in 257 matches (joint second-most with Rohit Sharma), with 22 fifties.

In His Illustrious IPL Career, Which Spanned Over 17 Years, Karthik Played for Six Franchises in the Cash-Rich League

He debuted in the inaugural season in 2008 with the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). He then played for Punjab in 2011, and later for Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions, Kolkata Knight Riders, and RCB.

He ended the current season with 326 runs in 15 matches, averaging 36.22, and a strike rate of 187.36.

Happy Retirement, DK!