Dinesh Karthik opens up on Virat Kohli’s support, recalls friendship beyond cricket

Dinesh Karthik has spoken about Virat Kohli’s long-standing support throughout his cricketing journey, recalling key moments from his comeback phases and recent coaching transition. He also highlighted their strong personal bond, extending to their families and children spending time together.

Hyderabad: From an amazing comeback to the commentary box to now stepping into coaching, Dinesh Karthik’s second innings in cricket has been anything but ordinary. But through every major chapter of that journey, one constant source of support has been Virat Kohli. What began as a professional relationship between two cricketers quietly grew into one of Indian cricket’s most heartwarming friendships, one that now extends to their children playing together.

In a recent conversation on The Quest Talk with Nipun Marya, CEO, iQOO, he opened up about his deeply personal bond with Kohli, a relationship that has evolved far beyond cricket into one rooted in trust, mutual respect, and family.

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Recalling his comeback phase in 2017, he shared how “Virat called me and said, ‘You’re doing really well.’ And then on the physiotherapy table with Basu sir, he said, ‘Dinesh is playing really well, he should be a part of the Champions Trophy squad,'” DK recalled. “An endorsement like that, from a person like him, means a lot.”

Their bond strengthened further during his remarkable 2022 comeback season, when he balanced broadcasting alongside his return to elite cricket with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Kohli once again voiced his support publicly, backing DK for India’s T20 World Cup squad.

“He told the world through the media that what I was doing was special and that I should be in the World Cup team. For someone like Virat to acknowledge my journey that meant everything,” he recalled.
When Dinesh recently received an offer to step into coaching, one of the first people he told was Virat. “He said, ‘I believe you should take it up, because I believe you would be a good coach,” DK recalled. “His words mean a lot to me because he sees things from a very different lens. We have different personalities, but there is a lot of mutual respect between us.”

What makes the friendship especially meaningful for him, however, is the personal bond their families now share. “When I go to England, I end up spending a lot of time with Virat, Anushka, and their family,” Dinesh shared, his voice visibly warm. “Today I see my son interacting with his daughter, Vamika, when we spend time together during IPL and beyond. It’s a nice feeling. It’s something I hold very close to my heart, and I wish it remains that way for a long time.”