Former India and RCB wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has been appointed as the new batting coach and mentor of the IPL franchise announced the news on Monday (July 1). The 39-year-old star had recently retired from all forms of the game after the conclusion of IPL 2024 as well.
However, Dinesh Karthik was a part of the Indian squad that won the inaugural T20 World Cup way back in 2007 and has played every single edition of the IPL until his retirement as well. He has had two different stints as a player with RCB where the most recent one from 2022-24 as well. Apart from RCB, he was with KKR too.
In a recent interview with Cricbuzz, Karthik said, “Coaching and broadcasting is what I’m thinking I’ll mix in the foreseeable future. It’s not as simple as it looks. But I must admit, a few of the players who’ve played in RCB itself are very keen to come and work with me in Chennai. So, that is a positive. It’s very exciting,” he had told Cricbuzz.
“Coaching at a professional level is incredibly exciting for me and is something I’m truly passionate about as a new chapter in my life. Hopefully, the breadth of my experiences as a player can contribute to the development of the group and bring added value. I believe that cricket success hinges not only on technical proficiency but also on match intelligence and composure. I am eager to coach and mentor our batting group, helping them to not only refine their method but also to develop the keen match awareness needed to excel under pressure. It’s also great that I can continue my association with RCB as the franchise continues to move from strength to strength,” he further added.
Our new ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฉ ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ฌ loves RCB as much as our 12th Man Army loves him! โค๏ธ
He has a special message and an even more special promise for fans ahead of his new innings with us! ๐ฅ#PlayBold #เฒจเฒฎเณเฒฎRCB pic.twitter.com/1E27Qwbatt
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) July 1, 2024
Meanwhile, RCB’s director of cricket Mo Bobat also expressed his delight at the acquisition and excitement as Dinesh Karthik to add his qualities and values to the current bunch of players at the franchise as well.
“DK is an excellent addition to our coaching group. He was thrilling to watch on the field, and I’m sure he will be just as impactful as a coach. His longevity and track record as a player speaks volumes about his skill and dedication. I know he will bring that same quality and commitment to this new professional chapter,” Bobat added.
DK’s experiences across both international cricket and the IPL, make him a huge asset to RCB. I have no doubt that our players will benefit hugely from his expert support. As a player, DK demonstrated an elite mindset under pressure and a real drive to keep evolving his game. I’m looking forward to him instilling those same qualities and values into our players, and in particular, our batters. We have exciting times ahead and it’s great for us that we can retain DK’s involvement, as someone who knows what it takes to play for RCB and our special fans,” Bobat concluded.
