BENGALURU: Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik, who has transitioned into a batting coaching role at Royal Challengers Bengaluru after formerly representing the franchise, opened up on his role, saying that his job is to understand every player's needs and help them prepare for tough situations in the match.
His influence was evident as the team started their 2026 IPL campaign by making history with the fastest 200-plus chase in the IPL, defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad in just 15.4 overs, an achievement that underscores the team's strong preparation and effective execution under pressure.
“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, reflecting on his coaching philosophy.