Karthik Criticizes Stokes’ View on World Test Championship

LONDON: Dinesh Karthik, the former Indian cricketer, has voiced his disapproval of England’s captain, Ben Stokes, for what he perceives as a lack of appreciation for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).

Stokes had earlier voiced bewilderment regarding the WTC’s scoring methodology and expressed discontent with the stringent penalties imposed for slow over rates.

During the fifth Test’s fourth day, Karthik conveyed to British media that Stokes’s perspective appeared more like a justification than a legitimate worry.

He stated, “Their (England’s) primary focus for the past couple of years has been on preparing for The Ashes. In India, we place significant importance on the WTC.”
He contended that the all-rounder’s seeming indifference towards the WTC casts a shadow on the team’s aspirations.

Karthik remarked, “For some inexplicable reason, Ben Stokes seems to misunderstand the table itself. I’m uncertain if this is merely an excuse.”
Karthik also supported India’s position in the ongoing Test series against England, asserting confidence that the hosts have amassed sufficient runs to potentially draw the series.

“Without a doubt (regarding India having enough runs). I firmly believed India needed to establish a target of 280-300 on this pitch. The pitch seems to have become more favorable for batting. We anticipate witnessing some uneven bounce tomorrow. In my view, the pitch still provides enough opportunities for bowlers,” he stated.

Karthik further pointed out that despite the completion of three WTC cycles, England has yet to secure a place in a final.

“In India, we highly value the WTC. Ben Stokes, strangely, seems to misunderstand the standings. I’m unsure if it’s an attempt at justification,” Karthik concluded.

Notably, under Stokes’ leadership since 2022, England participated in 22 Tests within the current cycle (2023–25) yet concluded in fifth position in the standings.