Chennai: Dinesh Karthik has made it clear he has no plans of quitting first class cricket to focus on limited overs, saying he will continue to pursue his dream of claiming the Ranji Trophy title for Tamil Nadu.
Last month, India middle-order batsman Ambati Rayudu had announced his retirement from first-class cricket to focus on ODIs and T20Is.
Asked if he thinking in similar lines, Karthik said: "No, I haven't thought about it because I really enjoy playing for Tamil Nadu. I think one of the joys of the sport is playing for the state.
"The minute I think that people see me as a burden playing for Tamil Nadu I will take a step back," he told reporters ahead of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group 'B' match between Tamil Nadu and Kerala beginning Thursday.
"I will play for Tamil Nadu as long as possible only because the dream of winning that one title for me - the Ranji Trophy. Still not been able to achieve it, so I will keep trying as many years as I can play for Tamil Nadu."
The dashing wicketkeeper-batsman, who enjoyed a good 2018 including his heroics in the Nidahas Trophy final in Sri Lanka, said it was a phenomenal year.
"It has been a phenomenal year. Very happy to be in the place that I am. There's a lot to look forward to in the coming year. Actually, it is interesting times," said Karthik, who was part of the Indian T20 squad which played in Australia recently.
He is part of next
year's 50-overs World Cup but Karthik said he was not thinking so far ahead.
"I am not thinking so
far ahead. Because as soon as I start thinking about the World Cup and all that there will be more pressure than what is already there.
"There is obviously the Australia series, New Zealand series ... there is a lot of cricket coming up, I need to focus on that ... the best I can do and take it from there," he added. Karthik, who has been seen in the finisher's role in the national side in recent times, said it was an aspect he was working on.