It is perform or perish for Karthik

Dinesh Karthik is aware that non-performance may result in him going off the radar but the wicket-keeper batsman says he would rather “embrace” the pressure rather than run away from it.

Karthik has been around Indian cricket for long but has failed to cement his place in the side. He has always been the man to fall back upon when established stars are rested.

“From where I sit, every tournament is important. One bad tournament and I will be way out. So, in every tournament I need to be at the top of my game and try to do as well as I can,” Karthik said on the eve of the Twenty20 Tri-Series final against Bangladesh. match is important and I am trying to do my best.” India are up against a gutsy Bangladesh in the final tomorrow but Karthik said they are well prepared to take on the Tigers.

“Everybody has got a decent hit. Up to no. 6 everybody has batted. So this tournament has been good as everybody has been tested and I think we have done a fair job till now. Going into the final a lot of bases are covered for sure,” he said.

India start as favourites against Bangladesh tomorrow, but Karthik refused to take the ‘Tigers’ lightly.

“As a team they (Bangladesh) are known for that (fighting spirit). They really try hard. They are a team which achieved Test status not many years ago and they propelled forward in all formats