Top News

Dinesh Karthik has stated that Virat Kohli played a key role in his transition into a coaching position with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, confirming that the idea was first proposed by Mo Bobat during IPL 2024. The former wicketkeeper-batter, now part of the franchise’s support staff, said the move materialized after discussions late in the season.

Karthik revealed that the initial conversation occurred while the tournament was still in progress, at a time when RCB were struggling in the standings. The franchise had lost six out of seven or seven out of eight matches, leaving them with limited margin. Despite the results, the management identified a potential role for Karthik within the team structure. In a video released by RCB, Karthik spoke to the famous sports presenter Mayanti Langer where he said,

“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."

He added,

“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."

Read also: IPL: Jacob Bethell in Awe of Virat Kohli’s Chasing Mastery, Reveals What Makes Him Special

Karthik indicated that the decision required multiple discussions, including with his wife Dipika Pallikal and members of the RCB management such as Malolan Rangarajan. He emphasised that the clarity provided regarding the role influenced his acceptance rather than persuasion. Karthik said,

“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 further noted that Kohli’s input came towards the latter stages of the season, reinforcing the proposal before it was formally extended after his retirement from playing. The interaction added weight to the decision-making process as the franchise prepared for structural changes. Karthik said

“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."

The appointment followed a season in which RCB went on to secure their maiden IPL title, indicating a transition phase that included both on-field recovery and off-field restructuring within the franchise setup.