[caption id="attachment_46277" align="aligncenter" width="580"]DBEqbUsXUAAMrZN Dinesh Karthik played a knock of 94 runs against Bangladesh in the second warm-up match on Tuesday. Image Source: BCCI[/caption] Internet Desk: India's wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik says his impressive performance in India’s final warm-up match against Bangladesh eliminated any pre-tournament nerves and he is now ready to show what he can do in the ICC Champions Trophy. India beat Bangladesh by 240 runs at The Oval in London on Wednesday and Karthik top-scored in its total of 324 for seven as he compiled a brilliant 94 from 77 balls before retiring. And if that wasn’t enough, the 31-year-old then took four catches behind the stumps as Bangladesh was bowled out for 84 from just 23.5 overs. The swinging, seaming conditions in London were very different to what most of the Indian players are used to back home, but they have appear to have adapted superbly. Karthik was out for a duck in the previous warm-up match against New Zealand but after his fluent knock 48 hours later, he is now full of confidence ahead of India’s ICC Champions Trophy opener with Pakistan on Saturday 3 June. “One of the benefits of playing these warm-up matches is to get used to the conditions ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy and it is a good opportunity for a player like me to show what I can do,” said Karthik. “But at the same time, I need to keep improving and keep doing what is best for the team. “In the previous game, I was really nervous when batting – I was just standing in the centre and getting beaten, so there wasn’t much I could do. “Virat Kohli tried to calm my nerves but I was just a little bit anxious. “Against Bangladesh, I calmed myself down and I thought: ‘it’s an important opportunity for me to go out there and play a few shots’. “I saw this game as an opportunity to showcase my skill and it was nice to get some time in the middle – I feel ready for the tournament now.” While batting can often be a challenge in English conditions, so too can wicketkeeping. But after getting an opportunity to don the gloves against Bangladesh, Karthik claims it is a test he enjoyed. “In England, the ball wobbles a lot, so wicketkeeping can be a very challenging thing to do sometimes,” he explained. “England is a tricky place to keep against fast bowlers but it’s a good challenge and one I really enjoy. “It was a good experience and our bowlers are bowling really fast at the moment, so it’s great to keep wicket to them.”

Champions Trophy: Karthik feels he is ready for the tournament