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        He broke into the Indian team a few years ago on the basis of his good work in front and behind the stumps. A few good performances here and there in between some slipshod ones did not help matters for the young cricketer.

        The player in question is Dinesh Kaarthick, the in-form 21-year-old Chennaiite. Good for him and Indian cricket that he has reinvented himself as a batsman after Jharkhand dasher M S Dhoni made the wicketkeeper-batsman job his own with some awesome acts.

        On the fringes as Dhoni cemented his spot in the squad, Kaarthick seized the opportunity that came his way when the Indian top-order faltered during the recent tour of South Africa. Picked as the second wicket-keeper and expected to play no more than a minuscule role, Kaarthick came up with decent scores. Making it clear that he hasthe technique and temperament to survive in the tough grind of international cricket.

        As the Indian team's fortunes lay in a shambles after an appalling loss in the one-day series, the young wicketkeeper stole the thunder with a match-winning knock in the 20Twenty match against the hosts. Apparently, that saw his confidence level shoot up paving the way for better things.

        Thrust into the role of an opener in the deciding Test of the series in Cape Town, Kaarthick carved out a strokeful half-century providing the team a great start partnering Wasim Jaffer. In the second innings too, his unbeaten 38 helped the team post a fighting total. Importantly, his stock as a batsman soared winning fulsome praise from the captain and coach.

        The bigger task is ahead of Kaarthick. His Man-of-the-Match knock the other day in Cuttack went some way in India taking a handy 2-0 lead in the ongoing one-day series against West Indies.

        Skipper Rahul Dravid was effusive in his praise of the youngster, saying 'Kaarthick played a special innings.' Indeed it came on a track not conducive for batting where the big guns found the going tough.

        Even rival skipper Chris Gayle hailed Kaarthick's effort, an indication of its utility value. It seems to be a certainty that Karthick will be in the flight for the game's biggest event - the forthcoming World Cup in the Caribbean.

        After the heroics in Cuttack, the onus would be on Kaarthick to uncork quality stuff in front of his home crowd (in the third ODI at Chennai) on Saturday. For the cricket fans of the metropolis, the expectations would be immense since Rain God has played havoc whenever the game came to the city in recent times (remember the wet games against Sri Lanka and South Africa).

        It is a perfect stage for the local lad to consolidate his gains, backed by the home support. He would do well to seal a berth. Will it be a 'Kaarthick show' at Chepauk. Saturday will provide the answer.