Dinesh Karthik shrugs off IPL 2025 final lecture to Kohli: 'Don't recall a word!'

Dinesh Karthik, mentor and batting coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), shrugged off claims of giving a final-match lecture to Virat Kohli during the IPL 2025 final. RCB clinched their maiden title by defeating Punjab Kings, with Kohli top-scoring 43 runs off 35 balls.

Michael Atherton, on a Sky Sports podcast, teased Karthik for "hogging the limelight" and "telling what to do" to "one of the greatest batters." Atherton remarked, "Before the final, I predicted that if RCB won, you would be right at the front holding the trophy, which turned out to be true, and Virat Kohli was right at the back." He also cheekily added, "...you spent a long time telling Virat Kohli what to do...I think he was out the very next over, after your five-minute lecture."

Karthik responded with humor, saying, "I really don't have a memory of whatever I said." He also questioned the idea of lecturing Kohli, stating, "What is this man telling one of the greatest batters that has ever walked the earth? What can he possibly be telling him?"

Kohli was instrumental in RCB's success, amassing 657 runs at an average of 54.75 over 15 games, inspiring his team both with the bat and on the field.

The exchange highlights the camaraderie and light-hearted banter surrounding RCB's historic IPL triumph, with Karthik downplaying any notion of giving strategic advice to the star batsman during the final moments.

Dinesh Karthik, mentor and batting coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, dismissed claims of lecturing Virat Kohli during the IPL 2025 final, saying he doesn't recall a word. Kohli top-scored as RCB won their maiden title, with Karthik shrugging off criticism from Michael Atherton.