Former India opener Murali Vijay recently praised his former Tamil Nadu teammate Dinesh Karthik during an event in Chennai. Vijay’s comments on Karthik quickly went viral on social media platforms, surprising many cricket fans given their widely discussed rivalry in the past.
After the divorce, Karthik focused on rebuilding his personal life and cricket career. He married Indian squash player Deepika Pallikal in 2015 and revived his career as a finisher for India and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Meanwhile, after retiring from cricket, Vijay remained away from the public eye.
“He is one of the best cricketers from Tamil Nadu” – Murali Vijay praises Dinesh Karthik
Despite his well-known past, Murali Vijay surprised the audience by praising Dinesh Karthik. Speaking at an event, Vijay admitted that his comments might seem unusual, but he described Karthik as one of the greatest cricketers from Tamil Nadu and thanked him for helping him during his career.
“I want to talk about Dinesh Karthik. This might be a bit strange, but, you know, I have been watching him since my childhood days.”
“I think he is one of the best cricketers, batsmen and wicketkeepers from Tamil Nadu. He is a dynamic personality, a dear friend, but I enjoyed watching him as a fan because I have been with him at the non-striker’s end many times. I have never seen anyone play like him. He is a brilliant cricketer. He has helped me a lot with all his knowledge. And I really want to thank him for that now.”
M. Vijay @mvj888 gets emotional while speaking about his former teammates including @DineshKarthik and @ashwinravi99 at the @TNCACricket Annual Day.
“I want to talk about Dinesh Karthik. It may sound a bit strange, but I have known him since childhood. He is a dynamic person… pic.twitter.com/hqA5OiQYZN
– Santosh Kumar (@giffy6ty) July 4, 2026
Murali Vijay-Dinesh Karthik dispute explained
Murali Vijay’s admiration for Dinesh Karthik surprised many fans due to their much-discussed personal dispute in 2012. The two were once close friends and teammates in Tamil Nadu and India, before events in their personal lives led to their relationship breaking down.
The controversy started when Murali Vijay got into a relationship with Nikita Vanzara, who was married to Dinesh Karthik at that time. Kartik and Nikita later divorced in 2012, ending their marriage that began in 2007.
Murali Vijay calls Ravichandran Ashwin a role model
Murali Vijay also praised Ravichandran Ashwin and remembered his dedication during his early cricketing days in Chennai. Vijay shared a story about Ashwin’s father and said that Ashwin’s passion to improve his game always came through.
“And of course R Ashwin. There was a guy named Ravichandran at that time. I saw him here. Once, when we practiced at Saint Beach at 4:45, he came on his bike, and I was going on my scooter. He stopped me and said, ‘You do the same. I have to go to work, go to the office.’
“I looked at Ashwin. I always thought he would do something one day. I always felt that way because he showed that eagerness. He had a different kind of passion for cricket because he wanted to learn the game and improve himself. So that was a great quality. All the youngsters listening, he is a great role model.”
