ICC Champions Trophy: Dinesh Karthik replaces injured Manish Pandey in Indian squad

Tamil Nadu's veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik shall replace injured batsman Manish Pandey in the Indian squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy squad to be held in England from June 1.

Karthik was initially included as one of the five stand-byes and has earned a place in the Indian side owing to his stupendous form in the domestic cricket last season.

Karthik, who will soon be celebrating his 32nd birthday, scored 607 runs during Tamil Nadu's victorious Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign, including a century in the final. His average was 86 plus and scored the runs at a strike rate of over 100.

He has also scored 704 runs in the Ranji Trophy and another 361 runs in IPL-10, capping off a consistent domestic season. He last played for India against Afghanistan in the 2014 Asia Cup in Bangladesh.

Having played 23 Tests and 71 ODIs for India, Karthik pipp d another glovesman Rishabh Pant, who was also a part of the reserves.
Incidentally, Karthik was a part of the Indian team which won the Champions Trophy, back in 2013.

Pandey had suffered a side strain during one of Kolkata Knight Riders' training sessions and was replaced by Ishank Jaggi during their Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad.