Who is Dinesh Karthik? Know About His Relationships, Family, Career, Stats and More

Dinesh Karthik is a veteran Indian cricketer who played as a wicketkeeper-batsman with the team. He was known for his consistent wicket-keeping skills and powerful batting style. Karthik debuted in international format by playing his first ODI match against England in 2004. Karthik was a part of the Indian team when they won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. He was also the former captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders, impressing everyone with his performance in the IPL. He has contributed well to every team as a finisher and is an inspiration for young athletes.

Dinesh Karthik Biography

Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik was born in Madras, Tamil Nadu, on June 1, 1985. Karthik started playing cricket at a very young age under the guidance of his father. He was a first-division cricketer. Karthik started playing in domestic cricket, and with consistency in his game, he earned himself a place in the national cricket team. His journey has been very inspiring, and he has shown his best game in every format.

Dinesh Karthik Religion & Caste

Dinesh Karthik was born into a Tamil Hindu family. He was from a middle-class background, and thus, he is very connected to his roots. He is a Brahmin and has faith in the values and beliefs of the Hindu religion.

Dinesh Karthik Family

Dinesh Karthik was born in a loving family that had enough faith in him. They supported him in his cricket career. His parents fulfilled all his requirements needed for cricket practice. In his family, Karthik also has a brother, and they all live together as a supportive unit. Everyone in his family encouraged him to work hard and make his dream come true.

Dinesh Karthik Father

Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Dinesh Karthik's father is Krishnakumar, who was a former first‑division cricketer from Chennai. He also worked as a systems analyst in Kuwait. Krishnakumar was Karthik's first coach and made him learn the basic techniques of playing cricket.

Dinesh Karthik Mother

Dinesh Karthik's mother is Padma, who worked in both IDBI Bank and ONGC. She gave financial stability and emotional support to her son. Padma took him to coaching centres and used to fund his earlier training sessions. She instilled good values in Karthik, which helped him become a better cricketer.

Dinesh Karthik Brother

Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik has a younger brother named Vinesh, who always supported him in his career. He is pursuing an MBA in Sydney, Australia, and has been a pillar of strength in Karthik's life.

Dinesh Karthik Sister

There is no information available about Dinesh Karthik's sister, as he only had a brother. He was brought up in a family of four, which included his parents and his younger brother.

Dinesh Karthik Instagram

Dinesh Karthik has an Instagram account under the name of @dk00019, where he has more than 3.9 million followers and has around 858 posts. On his Instagram, he has posted pictures related to his cricket career, achievements, commentary videos, and photos with his family and friends.

Dinesh Karthik Twitter

Right-handed batter Dinesh Karthik also has an X [formerly Twitter] account under the handle @DineshKarthik, where he has more than 2.6 million followers. On his Twitter account, he has posted mostly about his cricket career, team achievements, and pictures with various celebrities.

Dinesh Karthik Facebook

Dinesh Karthik has a Facebook account under the name of @Dinesh Karthik, where he has more than 1.5 million followers. On his Facebook account, he has posted photos related to his cricket journey, achievements, commentary and inspirational videos.

Dinesh Karthik Jersey Number

Dinesh Karthik wears the jersey numbers 21 and 19 while playing in international cricket for India. He also wears the same jersey numbers while playing in domestic cricket as well as in franchise leagues such as the Indian Premier League.

Dinesh Karthik Relationship

The Indian cricketer, Dinesh Karthik, was first married to Nikita Vanjara in 2007. The couple got divorced in 2012 as his ex-wife married his teammate Murali Vijay. Karthik later found his love again and got married to Dipika Pallika. The couple welcomed their twin sons Kabir and Zian in October 2021. Dipika also accompanied him in many of his matches as a supportive wife.

Dinesh Karthik Wife

Dinesh Karthik wife is Dipika Pallikal Karthik, who is an Indian squash champion. She was the first Indian woman to break into the world’s top-10 rankings in 2012 and received the prestigious Arjuna Award and Padma Shri. Dipika and Karthik got married on August 18, 2015, in a Christian wedding set up and on August 20, 2015, in a Hindu wedding. They also post a lot of pictures together, showing their love for each other.

Dinesh Karthik Net Worth & Salary

As of 2025, Dinesh Karthik net worth is estimated to be around $12 million, which is approximately ₹96 crore. His total net worth is calculated after including his BCCI salary, different match fees, IPL salary, commentary salaries, domestic fees, and brand endorsement deals. Karthik received a Grade‑C BCCI annual contract worth ₹1 crore per year, and above that, he received different match fees: ₹15 lakh per Test match, ₹6 lakh per ODI match, and ₹3 lakh per T20I match. In 2022-2024, playing with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he received a salary of ₹5.5 crore per season. He was the former captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders and received a salary of ₹7.4 crore per season.

Dinesh Karthik Career

Dinesh Karthik career has been full of twists and turns, but still, he has played every match with consistency. He is an inspirational wicketkeeper-batsman who competed with legends like the Indian former captain MS Dhoni. Karthik debuted in the international format by playing his first ODI match against England in 2004. He is one of the best wicketkeepers in India, who was a part of the Indian team when they won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. Karthik has also played in the IPL with various teams and impressed everyone with his performance in every format.

International Career

The wicketkeeper-batsman, Dinesh Karthik, debuted in the ODI format on September 5, 2004, against England. He debuted in Test cricket on November 3, 2004, against Australia, and finally made his T20I debut on December 1, 2006, against South Africa. Karthik is known for his vital cameos, especially his match-winning last-ball six in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy final against Bangladesh, and also in the T20 World Cups. He has played around 180 matches and has scored a total of 3,463 runs with a consistent strike rate. Karthik has also scored a single century and 17 half-centuries in the international format. He has also stumped out 21 players and has taken 151 catches at the international level.

IPL Career

Apart from his international career, Dinesh Karthik has played consistently well in the IPL. He debuted in the IPL in 2008, playing with the Delhi Capitals. He has played 257 matches in the IPL and has scored a total of 4,842 runs with a strike rate of 135.36. Karthik has also scored 22 half-centuries in the IPL. As a wicketkeeper, he has stumped out 37 players and has taken 145 catches for his team. In the IPL, Karthik has played with various teams such as the Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Mumbai Indians.

Dinesh Karthik Achievements & Awards

Dinesh Karthik has achieved a lot in his career, both in international as well as domestic cricket. He became the first debutant Indian player to win the T20I Player of the Match in 2006. Karthik was a part of India’s team when they won the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup in 2007 and played a vital role in the Nidahas Trophy final in 2018 with his last-ball six. In 2010, he won the Man of the Match in the Asia Cup Final against Sri Lanka. In 2007, he made a half-century in all the Tests of the England tour. Karthik has also made a record of the second-most dismissals in the IPL after MS Dhoni. He was also the top run scorer in IPL 2018 and captained the KKR team.