From Sunnaghatta to stardom: Karthik’s long road to cricket glory

Bengaluru

Indian cricket today is like a towering iceberg. At the top are some of the world’s best players – your KL Rahuls and Ravindra Jadejas – but beneath the surface lies some of the sport’s greatest achievements: a steady, almost unending supply of fresh talent. Among those emerging stars is Karthik SU, who struck three half-centuries in the recently concluded Maharaja Trophy. His fifties came in two matches against Hubli Tigers and one against Namma Shivamogga. In a conversation with News Trail, the young opener spoke about his humble beginnings in Sunnaghatta, a village in Channapatna taluk, and the hard work required to refine one’s skills in today’s competitive cricketing landscape.

Reflecting on the tournament, he said, “It was okay overall, though the team didn’t go far. Playing alongside Manish Pandey made me really happy. Last year, I played with Karun Nair, and in first division cricket with Mayank Agarwal. It’s very cool to share the field with players like them.” A naturally aggressive batsman, Karthik models his style on players known for their fearless approach. “Sehwag, who didn’t have much footwork and my style, is similar. He feared no bowler and played positively – any ball that came his way, he would hit it. Rohit Sharma is also like that, especially with his pull shots,” he said. Not surprisingly, Karthik counts the pull shot as his favourite stroke.

However, his ultimate cricketing idol is Virat Kohli. “No player matches his aggression. His match-winning intelligence, dedication and temperament are above everyone else,” he said with admiration. Having regularly played in Karnataka leagues, Karthik has interacted closely with state stars such as KL Rahul, Karun Nair and Mayank Agarwal. Watching them up close, he said, has been inspiring, and he dreams of following their path into the IPL and eventually the Indian national team. “To reach that level, I need to work on my fitness, focus on my game, and play a lot of cricket. Those are the key factors selectors consider,” he said. “At KIOC, they’ve helped me improve my technique. Irfan sir, CM Gautam sir, Hegde sir, and Nasir sir have all guided me. Even in my village, my first coach Venkatesh and my father have supported me endlessly.”

His father, a passionate cricket follower, has been central to his journey. “He always tells me to bat patiently. He loves Test cricket and hopes to see me debut in the Ranji Trophy someday,” Karthik said. Growing up in a small village posed significant challenges. “For ten years, my father and I travelled to Bengaluru by buses and trains just so I could get proper coaching and match practice. It was exhausting. Sometimes, after all that travel, I wouldn’t even get a chance to play. My father took me everywhere – practices, matches – covering 70 to 80 kilometres, five times a week,” he recalled. Now settled in Bengaluru, Karthik no longer faces long commutes, but the journey to the next level remains as demanding as ever.