• Sportzyverse
• IPL 2024
• 07/01/2024
• 0 Comments

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have announced Dinesh Karthik’s return to the team for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season as the ‘mentor and batting coach.’ Karthik, who retired from professional cricket after the conclusion of the 2024 IPL season, is set to bring his vast experience and cricketing acumen to the RCB coaching staff. RCB finished 4th in the 2024 season, and Karthik’s return is seen as a strategic move to bolster the team’s prospects.

Ready to groom the next generation of talent at RCB is our Batting Coach and Mentor Dinesh Karthik. 🫡

His experience would come in handy leading into the Mega Auction & #IPL 2025 and we just can’t wait! 🤩#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB pic.twitter.com/ETe3TSprbj

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) July 1, 2024

Dinesh Karthik to mentor RCB next season

Following his retirement, Karthik served as a commentator and expert analyst for the T20 World Cup 2024. Now, he is stepping into a new role, working closely with the RCB team. RCB welcomed him back with a warm message on social media: “Welcome our keeper in every sense, Dinesh Karthik, back into RCB in an all-new avatar. DK will be the mentor and batting coach of RCB Men’s team! You can take the man out of cricket but not cricket out of the man! Shower him with all the love, 12th Man Army!”

Karthik is a veteran of Indian cricket with a career that spans over two decades. He made his debut for India in 2004 and was part of the 2007 T20 World Cup-winning team. His IPL journey has seen him represent several teams, including Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), RCB, Delhi Capitals (DC), and Mumbai Indians (MI). Over 27 games, he amassed 4842 runs at a strike rate of 135.36, establishing himself as one of the finest finishers in the shortest format of the game.

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Karthik expressed his enthusiasm for the new role: “Coaching at a professional level is incredibly exciting for me and is something I’m truly passionate about. 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.”

Despite being 34 years old, Karthik’s contributions to the IPL and Indian cricket have been significant. His performance in the 2024 IPL season was impressive, and there were discussions about his potential inclusion in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad. However, the BCCI opted to pair Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson for the marquee event.