Dinesh Karthik's selection in India's World Cup team was sealed primarily on two counts — the experience of 91 ODIs and better wicketkeeping skills than Rishabh Pant. Chairman of selectors MSK Prasad made it clear that the second wicketkeeper will only be in the playing XI if MS Dhoni gets injured. However, what tilted the balance in Karthik's favour is his ability to finish games. "One of the wicketkeepers will play only if MSD is injured. Under pressure, we have seen Dinesh finish matches. That scored for him," Prasad said yesterday.

Karthik's standout knock in recent times came in the T20 Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka, where his last-ball six in the final helped India clinch the title in Colombo last year. As far as his ODI knocks are concerned, Karthik has been able to produce a few cameos. Karthik, who was also part of the 2007 World Cup as back-up to Dhoni, was not included in the last two home ODI series that India played against West Indies and Australia. In the two overseas ODI series against Australia and New Zealand, he scored 37 and 38 runs respectively.