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. Drawing from his playing career and broadcasting experience, Karthik highlights the importance of clarity, brevity, and trust to help players make well-informed decisions under pressure.
“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. This season, RCB’s batting has shown a consistent structure and adaptability throughout different phases.
A crucial part of Karthik’s role has been customising preparations for each player, enabling them to foresee and react to particular match situations. "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.