Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik is set to embrace a new challenge in the IPL 2025 season, transitioning from a player to a coach. After 17 seasons in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Karthik will now serve as the batting coach for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, Karthik discussed his excitement about this new role, his perspective on the evolution of Indian sports, and India’s readiness to host the 2036 Olympics.
Karthik acknowledged the significant shift from being a player to assuming a coaching role. “Being a player is a luxury. Everything is served to you. On the other hand, coaching is a self-service role, where you’re constantly looking to serve others,” he explained. Despite the challenges, he expressed enthusiasm for his new responsibilities, particularly in preparing for the auction and team selection.
Discussing RCB’s evolution, Karthik noted a shift from focusing on big names to building a balanced team. “In this auction, we tried to equally focus on both batters and bowlers,” he said. The team, according to Karthik, looks strong on paper, but the real challenge will be ensuring that every player’s role is optimised, particularly in difficult conditions.
Reflecting on the changing mindset of Indian athletes, Karthik pointed out that today’s players are not just competing; they aim to win. He highlighted the dedication of his wife, a squash player, who continues to train diligently even after becoming a mother. Karthik believes this change in mindset is noticeable across all sports in India.
Karthik also shared his thoughts on India’s potential to host the Olympics. He stated that India, as an economic superpower, is on track to develop the infrastructure needed for major sporting events. With improved facilities, athletes like Neeraj Chopra and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy are already training at home, indicating that India will be ready to host the Olympics in 2036.
Finally, Karthik discussed the current Indian cricket team, highlighting how they have learned to handle pressure better under strong leadership.
