When Mahendra Singh Dhoni arrived, Dinesh Karthik's international career was a prime example of what might have been, but on Wednesday, at the conclusion of his team's IPL campaign, he bid adieu to the game from a position he had carved out for himself over the previous 17 years.

Karthik's career came to an end in the Eliminator match between his Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals, marking the culmination of a 20-year career filled with comebacks in all forms.

Over a two-decade span, 26 Tests, 94 ODIs, and 60 T20s may not seem like impressive totals, but the ever restless 38-year-old managed to remain relevant until the very end despite spending more time in the commentary booth than on the field in recent years.

Karthik made a strong impression on selectors prior to the T20 World Cup team announcement by turning heads as an RCB batsman. However, his one-last comeback was not to be, as they wisely opted to go with younger players.