Mr Safe Hands?

Parthiv Patel is out, Dinesh Kaarthick is in. But India's search for areliable wicketkeeper who can also bat continues. Kaarthick, the selectors'latest pick for the ongoing fourth and final Test against Australia in Mumbai,is in the news more for his batting exploits than his glovework. It will beinteresting to see how Kaarthick, who recently figured in two one-dayinternationals on English soil without being impressive behind and in front ofthe wickets, fares in his dual role in what appears to be a Test baptism byfire.

The right-hander has been a star batsman for Globe Trotters in the highlycompetitive MAC-TNCA First Division League in Chennai. His performance for theIndian Under-19 team in international events, including the World Cup inBangladesh, has not been less laudable. The last Ranji Trophy season wasparticularly memorable for Kaarthick. Those who saw his back-to-back centuriesin the semi-final and final still vouch for them. His 109 not out against Mumbaiin the final, during the course of which he smashed four boundaries in anAvishkar Salvi over, was more important because it came under tryingcircumstances.

Like Hyderabad's teen sensation Ambati Rayudu, Kaarthick is also an attackingbatsman. "I like to bat with a positive frame of mind. I love to hit theball. Rather than allowing the situation to dictate me, I try to take it in mycontrol," says Kaarthick. He appears to be superstitious and, like formerTamil Nadu and India opener and captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth, believes that9 is a lucky number for him. No wonder he has added a couple of letters to hissurname!

Among other things, Kaarthick has honed his skills by practising, behind aswell as in front of the stumps, against young and experienced new ball bowlers,Indians and foreigners alike, at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai. "Ofcourse, I've received some of the best tips from the great Dennis Lillee. His valuable suggestions have helped me fine-tune my batting. Steve Waugh has also helped me a bit in my batting technique. So too have Kiran More, Woorkeri Raman, Sridharan Sriram andM. Senthilnathan in my wicketkeeping," admits a grateful Kaarthick.

This computer science student of Hindustan Engineering, who idolises SyedKirmani, Adam Gilchrist, Sachin Tendulkar and Damien Martyn, has had a brilliantacademic record, too. In fact, he got 91 % marks in the final examinations ofclass XII. Kaarthick, who is an avid Tom Cruise and Demi Moore fan, has as muchpassion for books as for batting. For one so young, Kaarthick has alreadyattended an "Art of Living" camp.

It was while at Don Bosco (Egmore) that Kaarthick, born in Chennai on June 1,1985, began to take serious interest in cricket, although he was initiated intoit by his father, V. Krishna Kumar. The move to St Bede's for his class XI andXII was good for his development as a cricketer because he could join theChennai-St Bede's Sports Foundation.

Not too many know that initially Kaarthick was a leggie and was coached inthe difficult art at the C.S. Suresh Kumar Cricket Academy. As it happens inmany cricketers' lives, Kaarthick also took to wicketkeeping by default, not bydesign. During one practice session, the regular wicketkeeper did not turn up.Kaarthick readily put on the gloves and did the job to a nicety. The rest, asthey say, is history. Since then Kaarthick has had guidance from the formerTamil Nadu and India stumper Bharath Reddy whenever he is in Chennai.

Regardless of the praise heaped on him from all quarters for being adetermined, delightful and dependable batsman, Kaarthick prefers to callhimself a specialist wicketkeeper who is capable of wielding the willow whenrequired. "It's just because I bat aggressively and have played a fewcrucial innings in big matches that people talk more about my batting thanwicketkeeping. But my glovework is just as good. I do accept thatthere's still scope for improvement in my wicketkeeping. With more exposure andexperience, I'm sure I'll be able to make the necessary adjustment andimprovement," he promises.

Right now, his behind-the-stumps work leaves much to be desired, just likehis immediate predecessor's, if experts are to be believed. "His battingtalent is special but he definitely has to improve his wicketkeeping. He has thebasics right but he needs to definitely sharpen his technique," says formerTamil Nadu and India all-rounder Robin Singh. He should know, for Robin wasIndia's coach at the Under-19 World Cup, in Dhaka, where Kaarthick played acouple of super innings but came a cropper with the gloves more often than not.