Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s batting coach and mentor, Dinesh Karthik, has revealed that despite the shock surrounding Virat Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket, the Indian batting legend remains at his “happiest and best” following the announcement.
Friday’s match against Sunrisers Hyderabad marks Kohli’s first game since stepping down from Test cricket.
Originally, RCB were scheduled to face Kolkata Knight Riders at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, but heavy rain washed out the game. Consequently, organisers relocated the fixture against SRH to Lucknow.
Fans turned out in large numbers for the encounter, wearing white T-shirts as a special tribute to Kohli and his retirement from the longest format of the game.
Karthik Reflects On Kohli’s State Of Mind
“It came as a shock to the outside world, so we are just observing what Virat is up to,” Karthik said during a pre-game chat with broadcasters.
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“He is at his happiest best now, enjoying the sport, and he really wants to spend his time with his family. It’s a personal decision, we respect it, and like everyone else, this is happening. But the fact is, it’s great to see him happy and ready whenever we want him to play. The key is to keep him in good spirits.”
Crucial Match To Climb IPL Standings
The game against Hyderabad holds significant importance for RCB as a win would allow them to overtake Gujarat Titans and claim first place in the IPL 2025 points table.
Karthik reflected on their chances of reaching the top and how the mid-season break, caused by tensions between India and Pakistan, proved beneficial.
“I think the goal midway through this tournament is to secure a spot in the top two,” Karthik said. “These are two important games for us, and we will try to get into the top two if possible. The break has been a welcome change — the boys are fresh and ready to go. In a tournament of this intensity, fatigue can set in, especially towards the end, so we embraced the break with both hands.”
Team Updates And Player Fitness
Karthik also provided updates on team fitness, noting, “Rajat has had time to recover, which is a big positive.
On the other hand, we lost Dev (Padikkal) as he couldn’t be fit. We miss him, but we have Mayank, who is a talented player.
He has been part of the tournament for many years, so we look forward to seeing him in action.”
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