Pressed into service after injury to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik on Tuesday said being an "outsider", he can add a bit of freshness to India's Asia Cup campaign after the battering in recent international engagements.
"I got to know about three-four days back, I guess I'm used to it now being called so many times. It doesn't play on my mind too much," Karthik said after the team's practice at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium here. "For me it's about coming out here... It's important to get into the zone just before the game. Obviously as a player I'm very excited to be a part of this Indian cricket team. It's one of the best teams available. For me, it's an honour to represent India and do the best that I can," he added.
Asked about India's prolonged winless patch with the last coming in against visiting West Indies in November last year, a nonchalant Karthik said: "Actually, you should have asked this question to somebody who was a part of these eight ODIs." "From an outsider point of view, I'm coming into this team fresh. As an individual I can talk of my perspective and say that for me it's going to be exciting. I'm sure it's the same for all the players. But somebody who has played those eight games will answer this question much better."
Karthik went on to add that the team has an exciting bunch of youngsters who would be keen to do well. "Definitely, it's a big tournament for all of us. It's going to be exciting for all the young players in the team, so we all are really looking forward to it."
The Indian team might not have the experience of Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina but Karthik said there are other players who have been around for quite a long time. "I've been around the scene for some time. Given the opportunity, I’ll try and use whatever little experience I've had and bat to the best of my ability.
"Having said that, quite a few guys have played 100 games which is a lot of experience now. They have been playing now for a year or two. They have been given a good run. Obviously everybody will pull in their experience whatever little that we have, go out there and give it our best shot," he added.
‘We Can't take Bangladesh lightly’
India stumper Dinesh Karthik feels that it will be foolish on their part if they take Bangladesh for granted considering their two permier performers Shakib-al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal are out due to various reasons.
Tamim has been rested for the tournament due to neck strain while Shakib has been suspended for three games for making obscene gesture on camera. "Bangladesh are a fantastic one-day team. They had a couple of close games against Sri lanka. Everybody knows that they are a very good one-day unit," he said.
Incidentally, it was in the last year's Asia Cup both the teams clashed for the last time, with Bangladesh chasing down 290 with disdain, a result that had cost India a berth in the final. "Definitely we all know they are a good one-day side and we will give them a lot of respect," Karthik said of Bangladesh who won 3-0 against New Zealand.