Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik is currently playing in South Africa’s SA20 2025, where he is representing Paarl Royals. On Tuesday, January 28, Karthik scripted history in T20 cricket by outshining the legendary wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni.
Dinesh Karthik needed just three runs to overtake MS Dhoni’s record of the most T20 runs as an Indian wicketkeeper. The former Indian wicketkeeper scored 21 runs off 15 balls, hitting two sixes, during the Paarl Royals’ SA20 2025 clash against Durban’s Super Giants at Boland Park on Tuesday.
Dinesh Karthik surpasses MS Dhoni
This knock brought the 39-year-old’s tally to a staggering 7,451 runs in 361 innings in T20 cricket. With his figures, Dinesh Karthik has broken MS Dhoni’s record and become the highest run-scorer in T20 cricket as an Indian wicketkeeper.
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Notably, Karthik has 7451 runs in 361 T20 innings with the help of 34 half-centuries at an average of 26.99 and a strike rate of 136.8 to his name. The Paarl Royals star has smashed 258 sixes and 718 fours in his career so far in the shorter format of the game.
On the other hand, Dhoni has scored 7432 runs in 342 innings with the help of 28 fifties at an average of 38.11 and a strike rate of 135.64. He struck 517 fours and 338 sixes so far in T20s.
Dinesh Karthik surpasses MS Dhoni in overall T20 runs, but the Indian legend still leads this chart
Well, Karthik might have surpassed MS Dhoni in overall T20 runs, but the former Indian skipper still holds the record for the most T20 runs by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter. Dhoni has 7,160 runs in T20 cricket as a designated wicketkeeper-batter to his name, while Karthik has so far amassed 6,547 runs.
Even Dhoni remains the highest run-scorer among wicketkeepers in IPL history, with 5,125 runs. However, Karthik is not far behind with 4463 runs, but the Tamil Nadu cricketer has already retired from all forms of the game, so the legendary cricketer’s record is safe.
Interestingly, the former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain will have the opportunity to surpass Karthik and become the highest run scorer in T20 cricket as an Indian wicketkeeper when he returns to action in the upcoming IPL 2025.
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Durban Super Giants vs Paarl Royals Match Highlight
Speaking about the SA20 2025 match, the Durban Super Giants won the toss and opted to bat first against the Paarl Royals. Despite losing a few early wickets, Kane Williamson and Marcus Stoinis anchored the innings. Stoinis was the top scorer with 55 runs, while Williamson contributed 46 runs.
Bjorn Fortuin and Kwena Maphaka were the standout bowlers for the Royals, picking up two wickets. Chasing the target, Rubin Hermann led the chase with a solid 59 runs off 51 balls. Opener Lhuan-dre Pretorius also played a key role by scoring 43 runs off 29 balls.
The Paarl Royals successfully chased down the target of 147 in the final over to beat the Durban Super Giants by six wickets in the match. The Royals have already secured a spot in the SA20 2025 playoffs after winning 7 out of 8 matches in the tournament.
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