Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting coach and mentor Dinesh Karthik has said that Virat Kohli was very encouraging in the former taking up a coaching role within the franchise, adding that Mo Bobat had
offered him the role midway through IPL 2024 and he eventually agreed.
Karthik revealed that Bobat first floated the idea of him joining the franchise’s support staff during IPL 2024, with a final nudge from Kohli sealing the move.
Karthik played a key role in the setup as Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinched their maiden Indian Premier League title last year, beating the Punjab Kings in the final in Ahmedabad.
“It all started when, as I was finishing up in 2024, Mo asked me if I would be interested. I was in the middle of the tournament and it was a very different IPL season,” Karthik said while speaking on the RCB podcast.
Coaching philosophy, his bond with fellow commentators, India’s T20 World Cup win, RCB’s brand of cricket, his AI videos on Instagram, and so much more: DK holds nothing back! 🎙️
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“We had lost six out of seven or seven out of eight games, I don’t remember exactly and had a mountain to climb. Nobody gave us a chance. Mo was very confident I would be useful to the team,” Karthik added.
The former Indian cricketer admitted the decision was not easy, saying that he consulted his wife Dipika Pallikal, along with Bobat and Malolan Rangarajan of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, before making the call.
“I trust him a lot; I have grown very fond of him and share a very good equation with him. He (Bobat) did not try to convince me, but instead showed me exactly what the role would look like and told me it was a good place to be, considering where I was in my career,” Karthik said.
The former Indian cricketer added that Kohli requested him to consider the offer, believing it would suit him well. Karthik also noted that head coach Andy Flower was keen to bring him on board.
“Towards the back end of the season, I spoke to Virat for a while and he was very encouraging. He said, ‘Think about it, I think it’s good. When the offer officially came at the end of the season, after I hung up my boots, Mo called to say they were keen,” Karthik said.
