Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Monday (July 1) announced the appointment of former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik as their batting coach and mentor.
"Welcome our keeper in every sense, Dinesh Karthik, back into RCB in an all new avatar. DK will be the batting coach and mentor 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!," RCB posted on 'X'.
It was only last month that Karthik announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. He played for RCB in the IPL 2024 season, where he amassed 326 runs in 15 matches at an average of 36.22 and a strike-rate of 187.35 with two half-centuries.
On his return to RCB in a new role, Karthik said: "Coaching at a professional level is incredibly exciting for me and is something I'm truly passionate about as a new chapter in my life. 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. It’s also great that I can continue my association with RCB as the franchise continues to move from strength to strength," he added.
Dinesh Karthik made a notable mark while playing for India even though his peak clashed with the legendary MS Dhoni. He represented the country in 26 Tests, 94 ODIs and 60 T20Is, amassing 3463 runs across formats with one hundred and 17 half-centuries. He was also part of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy triumphs.
In the IPL, Karthik played for six different franchises from 2008 to 2024. Starting with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), he later represented Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Mumbai Indians, now-defunct Gujarat Lions, Kolkata Knight Riders and RCB.
Karthik played a total of 257 matches in the IPL, scoring 4842 runs at an average of 26.32 and a strike rate of 135.36.
