'The moment he hit it, we knew it was six'

Dinesh Karthik’s delirious last-ball six to win the Nidahas Trophy sees him join an exclusive club. His name now slips in alongside those of Miandad, McLaren, Nathan McCullum, Klusener and Chanderpaul as players who have won international matches with a six off the last ball.

In the post-match maelstrom, no one was in any doubt they had witnessed something extraordinary. Karthik’s 8-ball 29, with two fours and three sixes, will go down as one of the greatest cameos of the modern game.

Team-mate Suresh Raina was still in shock. “The way DK played,” he said breathlessly, “the moment that he hit that shot, we knew it was going to be six.

“The way he handled the pressure, every ball he had to hit for four or six, and he just went and won a game for his country! That’s a beautiful feeling in the dressing room.”

Raina also recognised the work of his skipper Rohit Sharma in holding Karthik back until the death. “Credit goes to Rohit – he saved DK for the last, he’s our most experienced player in the middle overs and he’s done it for us today.”

Sharma himself knew that India’s best chance of hauling in Bangladesh’s competitive 166 was to keep back DK, at 32 the oldest of India’s otherwise youthful team, for the real pressure overs. “I was so happy to see Dinesh doing what he did,” Sharma said. “The way he showed that character was so crucial for us as a team.

“I’ve seen him play over the years and his experience matters a lot. I wanted one of the experienced guys to bat at the end. As a captain, when it comes off you look good. That was the thinking, but what happens in the middle is not in your control. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t!”

Karthik himself, who debuted for India in 2004 and was MS Dhoni’s deputy for many of those years, put it down to accumulated experience. “I guess it comes from there. That can’t be bought. You learn it over the years – it’s important to stay calm. Dhoni is a great example of that. You can see how calm he is, and you learn a lot of things from a lot of people, and one thing I’ve learned from Dhoni is how he finishes.”

Karthik is revelling in being a part of India’s all-conquering set-up. “I’ve been saying this over and over again, the India team right now is a tough place to get your opportunity. Credit to the backroom staff, they’ve always given me the confidence and support this last year and I’m happy to be where I am.”

And India’s tournament overall? “For us not to have won this match would not have done justice to the way we’ve played this tournament,” he said, with a smile.