‘It feels like a…’: Dinesh Karthik finally opens up on his coaching journey with RCB

Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik, who has now taken up a batting coaching role at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has opened up about his responsibilities with the team.

His influence was clearly visible as RCB started their 2026 IPL campaign by making history – achieving the fastest 200-plus chase in IPL history, defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad in just 15.4 overs.

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Karthik’s coaching philosophy

Karthik explained that his job is to understand every player’s individual needs and prepare them for tough match situations.

“In our team, we have players at very different stages of their careers. All of them are eager to learn, and my role is to understand what each individual needs while ultimately preparing them for match situations. Where they bat and the challenges they face are very different. For example, someone like Phil Salt will often deal with the new ball swinging, whereas for someone like Romario Shepherd, swing is rarely a factor at that stage.

“So, it’s about helping them understand those scenarios, what positions to get into, what to look for and then observing and giving them feedback accordingly. Coaching is as much about understanding the person as it is about the skill,” Karthik said.

Learning from broadcasting experience

Drawing from his playing career and time as a commentator, Karthik stressed the importance of clear and concise communication.

“These are elite players who are already dominating world cricket, so you don’t need to overcoach. It’s about giving them the right inputs and trusting them to make the best decisions. My experience in broadcasting has been very helpful. You travel, watch different teams and players closely, and analyse both their strengths and weaknesses.

“As a commentator, you’re constantly observing and breaking the game down, which helps later in coaching. It’s also taught me to communicate clearly and concisely, and that really helps when working with players,” Karthik added.

Customised preparation for players

This season, RCB’s batting has shown good structure and adaptability. Karthik highlighted how he tailors training for each player.

“Tim David is working on specific scenarios that bowlers might target him with. It starts with understanding his strengths, he’s a tall player with a unique range, and we figure out how to get him into positions where he can execute certain shots consistently.

“We try to simulate match situations in training and identify the shots he’s most comfortable with and also the areas where he feels he can improve. Then it’s about designing drills around that,” Karthik said.

Dinesh Karthik’s role at RCB goes beyond just technical coaching. By focusing on individual needs and clear communication, he is helping players prepare mentally and technically for high-pressure situations.

RCB’s record-breaking chase in the opening match of IPL 2026 shows that his approach is already paying dividends.