New Delhi, Feb. 8: The Dale Steyn-triggered capitulation of the Indian team on the third day of the Nagpur Test has not only brought to the fore the fragility of the hosts’ batting without mainstays Rahul Dravid and Venkatasai Laxman, but also kicked off a selection debate that is unlikely to die down soon.

It took just three of Steyn’s deliveries to see the back of Wriddhiman Saha, who made it to the playing XI only because India did not have any other batsman to field with Rohit Sharma twisting his ankle during warm-ups.

While Saha wasn’t the only batsman who appeared clueless against Steyn’s pace, it does beg the question: Could there have been better replacement than the rookie wicketkeeper-batsman?

Dinesh Karthik certainly feels the pinch of being excluded from the team, having been in and out of the national team for the last five years. He’s careful while picking his words, though.

“It’s not my intention to create controversies, but I do feel that I was a bit unlucky. On such occasions you sometimes think that it’s not just hard work, but being at the right place at the right time that counts more,” Karthik told this newspaper on Thursday.

He has a reason to be aggrieved, especially with the kind of form he is in. He led Tamil Nadu by example in the Ranji Trophy the previous season. And only days ago, he scored a hundred in each innings of the Duleep Trophy final, a feat only achieved twice before.

Karthik could still have made it to the team as a specialist-batsman had the selectors not picked four fast bowlers in the squad. It was quite clear than not more than two would be fielded by the team management and an extra berth could have been allocated to a batsman. Unfortunately for Karthik, such equations have become a part of his career. “It’s important to realise that breaking and keeping your place in the team is not easy. I was replaced by M.S. (Dhoni) in the Indian team initially and that’s when I truly realised how important it is to be a good bat for a wicketkeeper.

“I’ve worked very hard on my batting in the last 3-4 years and that’s why I’m still here,” he said. The 24-year-old is confident of earning back his place, but is also aware that it may not happen soon despite being in good nick. “Playing against the South Africans would have been a great challenge as they’re a strong side. But I’m sure Laxman will be back for the second one (at Kolkata) and there are already replacements for Dravid and Yuvraj Singh. It also won’t be fair on Saha,” said Karthik.

“Besides, I have age on my side and even if I have to carry drinks for a longer time, I won’t mind it.”