Dinesh Karthik has been named the captain of the Indian team for the Hong Kong Sixes 2025, which is scheduled to be held from November 7-9. The former India wicketkeeper-batter expressed his delight and honor at being handed the leadership role for the tournament.
Karthik stated, "It is an absolute honour leading Team India at the Hong Kong Sixes, a tournament with such rich history and global recognition". He further added, "I look forward to leading a group of players with impressive records, and together we aim to bring joy to the fans and play cricket that is both fearless and entertaining".
The Hong Kong Sixes is known for its fast-paced and fan-friendly format, attracting teams from around the world. India will be eager to redeem themselves after finishing at the bottom of the 2024 edition. Last year, Robin Uthappa led the Indian team, which included players like Kedar Jadhav, Stuart Binny, and Manoj Tiwary, but the team had a disappointing campaign, exiting in the group stage after losing all their matches.
The Indian squad will also include Ravichandran Ashwin, who will be making a return to competitive cricket after his retirement from the IPL.
Cricket Hong Kong welcomed Karthik's appointment, stating on X (formerly Twitter): "We are proud to have Dinesh Karthik as Captain of Team India for the Hong Kong Sixes 2025. With his vast international experience, dynamic leadership, and attacking batting, he embodies the fearless and entertaining spirit of the Sixes. Join us from November 7–9 in Hong Kong for a global celebration of cricket".
Burji Shroff, the chairperson of Cricket Hong Kong China, also expressed his excitement about Karthik leading the Indian side: "We are thrilled to welcome Dinesh Karthik as the captain of Team India for the Hong Kong Sixes 2025. His leadership and wealth of experience will add immense value to the competition, and we are confident that his presence will attract fans from across the globe to witness this spectacular cricketing festival".
Karthik's last T20 league appearance was in February 2025, where he represented Paarl Royals in the SA20 League. He scored 130 runs in eight innings, with an average of 21.66 and a strike rate of 121.49.
The 2024 Hong Kong Sixes featured 12 teams divided into four groups. The top two teams from each group advanced to the quarter-finals, while the losers moved to the Plate semi-finals, and the bottom-placed teams competed for the Bowl competition. Sri Lanka won the Cup, South Africa won the Plate, and Oman claimed the Bowl.
