Cricketer Dinesh Karthik made digital art NFT. Has captured the spirit behind hitting a six off his last ball against Bangladesh through
MS Dhoni is known to be a great finisher, having registered many thrilling final over victories for India and Chennai Super Kings.
But there is another finisher who is from the city: Dinesh Karthik. He currently plays for Kolkata in the IPL, but his thrilling last-ball six for India against Bangladesh in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy is an unforgettable moment for Indian cricket and fans.
The Chennai-based cricketer has captured that event as India’s first sports NFT (Non-Fungible Token). Titled Six for the Win, Digital Art NFT features an animated clip with Dinesh’s voice-over and is available for public auction.
“In India, cricket is a religion and cricket has many memorable moments, such as the 1983 World Cup win, the 2011 World Cup win, Sachin’s 100th century or the first IPL match. The cricketing world should dabble in the NFT space, which will grow in the future,” Dinesh said in a virtual interaction from UAE.
‘Out-of-the-box idea’
Karthik first heard about NFTs earlier this year when he read that Elon Musk’s partner (Grimes) made a lot of money selling digital artwork. “I was curious,” he says, “the more I read, the more I became convinced that this was a unique and out-of-the-box idea.”
This was followed by a conversation with his brother-in-law and squash player Saurav Ghoshal – something that resulted in the concept of Six for Win NFTs. “Everyone knows I hit a last ball six for India, but no one knows the feeling around that particular moment. There was a lot of drama surrounding that match, with Bangladesh players involved in a naagin dance (a celebratory dance step). I wanted every Indian cricket fan to relive that moment through this,” he explains.
Dinesh Karthik has partnered with his brother-in-law and squash player Saurav Ghoshal for a digital art called Six for the Win. Says Sourav, “There is a lot of potential for digital art and other forms of memorabilia. This NFT celebrates an unforgettable game win, and it’s a collector’s dream.”The auction is open to the public and will be held between October 12 and October 22 on rarible.com
Dinesh – or DK, as he is popularly called – is currently a key player for the Kolkata franchise in the IPL, but a few months ago, he was in England in a new avatar: as a commentator. His knowledge of the game, combined with his humor and fashion (Karthik was described as the ‘Giorgio Armani of broadcasting’) made him a popular favorite among the UK cricket community.
So, how is the game playing out after just a few weeks of talking about it? “In basketball or football, it is very normal to see a player on the field one day and in the studio the next. It is only in cricket that we are used to seeing retired players talk about it. I tried to break this stereotype. of commentary,” says Dinesh, adding that he enjoyed his time in England and enjoyed all the cricketing action.
since last year, cricketer Looking at the pandemic has been in various bio-bubbles. “The bubble life takes a toll on you,” he admits, “if you are in a confined area for long periods of time, it is very hard, including the pressure of the game. The players are doing their best, but I think the cricketing world needs to keep a strong eye on the bubble life and the mental and physical aspects. Otherwise you will see cricketers falling like flies…’
He is making sure that he does not do so by indulging in too many OTT platforms to keep himself busy when he is not playing or training. “My recent favorite is squid game,” he says with a smile, “Since I am fluent in languages, I watch films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi and English. I mix styles and watch; If I’m watching a murder mystery, I choose a comedy next. “
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