Dinesh Karthik is in red-hot form for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in what is his final Indian Premier League (IPL) season, the veteran wicketkeeper-batter having collected back-to-back half-centuries in his last two outings including a 35-ball 83 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). While he is set to call it a day in the IPL, in which he is among a handful of active players to have played the inaugural season in 2008, Karthik hasn’t ruled out the possibility of making one more appearance donning the blue Indian kit. Karthik, who has already made waves as a pundit for broadcasters such as UK’s Sky Sports, is still hopeful of representing the country in the upcoming T20 World Cup, which takes place days after the conclusion of the 17th IPL season. And DK, as he is popularly known, is willing to do “everything he can to be in that flight” to the United States where the 2007 T20 world champions play their group matches. Karthik, who will turn 39 by the time the T20 World Cup kickstarts on 1 June, was also part of the last edition in Australia in 2022, which was also his last appearance for Team India. Since then he has become an off-the-field cricket expert, involved in co22mmentary stints. Returning to IPL this season, he has taken his batting to a new level and displayed some astonishing power-hitting to strike at a rate of 205-plus.   He is also the third leading run-getter for RCB with 226 runs, behind Virat Kohli (361) and skipper Faf du Plessis (232). “At this stage in my life, it would be the greatest feeling for me to represent India. I’m very, very keen to do so. There is nothing bigger in my life other than representing India in this T20 World Cup,” the RCB wicketkeeper-batters said ahead of clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) . With Karthik’s also emerging as a contender, the wicketkeeper slot will be a hotly-contested one for which the Team India think tank may pick two at the most. Karthik said he would respect whatever the Big Three — coach Rahul Dravid, captain Rohit Sharma and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar — decide. “I also feel there are three very, very stable, honest people who are at the helm to decide what should be the best Indian team for the World Cup — Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar. And I’m completely with them. I respect any decision that they take. But all I can say is I’m 100 per cent ready, and I’ll do everything I can to be on that flight to the World Cup.” ‘I’m no Russell or Pollard’ Karthik further emphasised the importance of understanding his strengths as a player, focusing on precision rather than power-hitting like an Andre Russell or Kieron Pollard. He said he analyses bowlers’ patterns to strategise his shots, visualising scenarios during practice to enhance his batting repertoire. “These days as a player, you need to understand your strengths. I’m not a Russell or a Pollard who can just mishit a ball and get a six for it, rather,” said Karthik.