ILT20 | Sharjah Warriorz sign Dinesh Karthik ahead of inaugural auction

‌Dinesh Karthik was signed by the Sharjah Warriorz for the fourth edition of the International League T20 on Tuesday. The wicketkeeper-batter was roped in by the franchise as a replacement player ahead of the inaugural ILT20 auction scheduled for October 1. The former Indian player replaces Kusal Mendis in the Warriorz squad, with the Sri Lankan pulling out of the ILT20 owing to a clash with the Lankan Premier League.

"I am very excited to be joining the Sharjah Warriorz team for the DP World ILT20 tournament," Karthik said in a statement. "I know they are a young team, aspiring to do some special things, and I am happy to be here. Sharjah is also one of those iconic stadiums one always wants to play at. And to be a part of the franchise Sharjah Warriorz, makes a dream come true."

"Dinesh Karthik is one of the most experienced hands and an incredibly innovative mind when it comes to T20 cricket, and I am chuffed to have him in our corner," Warriorz head coach JP Duminy said. "The whole world has seen what he is capable of with the bat, and his explosive batting, dynamic personality, and immense experience will surely benefit the younger players significantly during the course of the tournament. I look forward to working with him closely."

Karthik is a veteran in the T20 format, having featured in 412 matches with a tally of 7537 runs, including 35 fifties, at an average of 27.01 and a strike rate of 136.66. The Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batter, who won the Indian Premier League with the Mumbai Indians as a player in 2013, was the batting coach and mentor of Royal Challengers Bengaluru when they lifted the title for the first time earlier this year.

Post his retirement from international cricket, Karthik has featured in international franchise leagues across the globe. He was last seen playing for the Paarl Royals in the SA20 2025 edition, where he made 130 runs in eight innings at an average of 21.66 and a strike rate of 121.49.