Dinesh Karthik focuses on helping players understand roles at RCB

Dinesh Karthik highlighted his coaching philosophy at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, focusing on helping players understand their roles. Emphasising clarity and trust, he credited structured preparation and communication for RCB’s strong batting performances in the IPL 2026 season

Hyderabad: From one of the most accomplished finishers in T20 cricket to shaping one of the most dynamic batting units in the league, Dinesh Karthik’s transition into a coaching role at Royal Challengers Bengaluru is yielding strong results as the side began their 2026 IPL campaign by scripting history, pulling off the fastest 200-plus chase in IPL history against Sunrisers Hyderabad, chasing down the target in just 15.4 overs, a performance that highlighted both preparation and 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,” says Karthik.

---

“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,” he said.

“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 both his playing days and time in broadcasting, Karthik has also emphasised clarity, brevity and trust, allowing players to make informed decisions in high-pressure situations.

“DK is a mastermind. He’s very detailed and excellent at gathering information along with Freddy (Wilde) and the rest of the coaching staff, and then simplifying it into something that’s easy to take onto the pitch. That’s probably his biggest strength. He brings a lot to the coaching setup, and it’s even more valuable because he’s played at the highest level so recently. We’re very fortunate to have him,” Phil Salt commented on the batting coach.

“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,” Dinesh Karthik added.

RCB’s batting performances this season have reflected a clear sense of structure and adaptability across phases. A key aspect of Karthik’s work has been tailoring preparation to individual players, particularly in helping them anticipate and respond to specific match scenarios.

“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, 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.