The Indian cricket team’s ongoing tour of England has taken an unexpected turn — not just due to their 5-wicket loss in the first Test at Leeds, but because of a controversial remark made by former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik. In a post-match analysis, Karthik compared Team India’s batting order to a Doberman, a statement that has triggered heated debate across social media and cricketing circles.
Speaking on Sky Sports during a discussion panel, Karthik referred to a viral tweet and remarked, “Team India’s batting is like a Doberman. The head (top order) is good, the middle order is okay, but there is no tail.” His comment was aimed at India’s lower-order batsmen, who failed to contribute significantly in both innings of the Test match. The analogy — highlighting that like a Doberman, which typically has no tail, India’s batting tail lacks bite — has drawn sharp reactions. While some fans appreciated Karthik’s blunt assessment, others labeled the comparison as “unparliamentary” and “disrespectful.”
Following the backlash, Karthik took to Instagram to clarify his views and posed questions directly to cricket fans. In a video message, he said:
"Despite scoring 835 runs and hitting 5 centuries, we lost the match. That’s worrying. Did Bumrah get enough support from the other end? Were there fielding lapses? Why did the tail collapse again? Tell me in the comments — I’ll wait." His questions sparked another round of fan engagement online, with many debating the accountability of India’s bowling and lower-order batting performances.
Despite scoring a combined 835 runs in both innings, including five centuries — by Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant — India failed to secure a win. In the first innings, India were 453/6, but the last four batsmen could add only 18 runs. In the second innings, India lost six wickets for just 33 runs — exposing the fragility of the lower order. In contrast, England's lower-order resilience was remarkable. Their last five batsmen contributed 189 runs in the first innings, underlining the difference in depth between the two teams.
As Team India trails 1-0 in the series, Karthik’s comments — both about the Doberman comparison and his public critique — continue to fuel discussions. With the next Test approaching, attention remains sharply focused not just on the playing XI, but also on how commentators, ex-players, and fans are interpreting the team’s performance and potential. Whether his statement will help inspire introspection or merely add to the noise remains to be seen — but one thing is certain: Dinesh Karthik has reignited a critical debate on India’s lower-order woes.