Dinesh Karthik roasts Atherton, Nasser over India Champions Trophy jibe after Pakistan crash out: 'You fossils felt...'

Pakistan crashed out in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026

Updated on: Mar 4, 2026, 14:46:56 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Veteran India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik brutally roasted former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain for a statement they made last year after India won the Champions Trophy in Dubai. Karthik hit back, noting that Pakistan had the same advantage but failed to capitalise on it at the T20 World Cup 2026, where they exited at the Super 8 stage.

Dinesh Karthik had picked Pakistan as potential T20 World Cup semifinalists

Nasser and Atherton had claimed last year that India had an unfair advantage during their victorious run in the Champions Trophy, having played all their matches at one venue after the Indian government barred the BCCI from sending the team to Pakistan for the ICC tournament. With India getting accustomed to the conditions in Dubai, with plans put in place even before the tournament got underway, and with no travelling involved compared to other teams — a few of which had to move between the UAE and Pakistan for their matches — the Men in Blue were considered better placed to win the tournament.

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On Tuesday, Karthik was asked which teams he was surprised did not reach the World Cup semifinals. He picked Pakistan among those teams and based his explanation on a statement that clearly aimed at Nasser and Atherton for their jibe at India last year.

"I expected Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Sri Lanka, because of the home conditions and because they are a side that needs a bigger cause. But that didn't work out. And then I thought of Pakistan, purely because they consistently played in Colombo, stayed in one hotel, knew the same pitches — and both you 'Fossils' felt that was the main reason why India won the Champions Trophy. By that same logic, Pakistan should have done something in this World Cup. Clearly, it works for one team but not for another, so there is a genuine lack of skill there. I'll back Pakistan to say they will fight a lot more, but then almost losing to Sri Lanka was mad, and on top of that, you hear about that," he said on the Sky Cricket Podcast.

Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka crashed out at the Super 8 stage. The Islanders, who had won the title in 2014, lost all their matches in the second round of the tournament. Pakistan, on the other hand, did beat Sri Lanka in their final Super 8 match but finished third in the table owing to a washed-out game against New Zealand and a defeat to England.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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