Dinesh Karthik, now RCB’s mentor and batting coach, opened up about how the Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans have made a massive impact on his journey. He said they welcomed him like he was one of their own—which really shaped his experience with the team. Karthik played for RCB in IPL 2015, then came back for another stint from 2022 to 2024. When he hung up his boots, he didn’t step away—he just switched gears and became the team’s batting coach and mentor. And in 2025, RCB finally lifted the IPL trophy for the first time.
“RCB fans made me who I am today. They adopted me as their son from their own land, and I’ve loved that. If I could relive any moment, it would be RCB winning the IPL. That was special—a truly iconic moment,” Karthik shared on the upcoming Quest Talk podcast by iQOO.
Right now, RCB are firing on all cylinders. They’ve locked in a playoff spot for IPL 2026 and lead the table with 18 points after 13 games. When the host teased another title run this year, Karthik just smiled and said, “Touch wood.”
He spoke about how much the team’s leadership group means—not just the current one with Andy Flower and Mo Bobat, but also Sanjay Bangar and Mike Hesson, who held things together before them.
“In 2022, Sanjay Bangar and Mike Hesson did well picking a balanced team for RCB. We kept reaching the playoffs, but couldn’t quite get over that final hurdle. Then Andy Flower and Mo Bobat came in.
“Recently, Mo Bobat has really influenced me. I’ve learned so much from him and honestly enjoyed every minute working with him. He’s got incredible vision, real cricketing knowledge, and shows a ton of respect for people at every level.
“And Andy Flower, in my opinion, is hands down the best coach in the world. If you look at results, it’s not even close. He’ll do everything possible to win. I feel proud RCB has built a strong culture—that shows in how we play, how we act, and how we get ready for battle,” Karthik said.
