Virat Kohli showered praise on wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, describing the 38-year-old as an “outstanding talent” and a “brilliant batter” to watch.
Karthik had his last dance on a cricket field in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 eliminator match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR).
In a video shared on RCB’s official social media handle, Kohli reminisced about his first encounter with Karthik during the Champions Trophy 2009. “The first time I met DK, I remember we were playing in South Africa if I am not wrong in the Champions Trophy 2009. It was the first time I shared the change room with Dinesh and I found him to be very amusing, I would say hyperactive, confused person, most of the time he was moving all over the place, never stopping. That was my first impression of Dinesh,” Kohli said.
While Karthik hasn’t yet officially announced his retirement from the IPL, he has hinted throughout the tournament that this season might be his last for his franchise. As he walked back towards the dressing room after RCB lost against RR, Karthik received a guard of honour from the RCB players.
Kohli also noted Karthik’s growth over the years, stating, “Outstanding talent, brilliant batter to watch and my first impression and present-day impression are not far apart. Just that he has become wiser and calmed down a lot.”
Kohli further revealed how Karthik supported him during a tough phase in his career. “Off the field, I have had some really nice and interesting conversations with him. He is a wise man and has great knowledge about a lot of things, not just cricket. I have thoroughly enjoyed my conversations with him. Even in that phase in 2022 when I did not have a great IPL season, I was really struggling for confidence, he sat me down a couple of times and gave me a very honest explanation of how he saw things and maybe I am not able to see them myself,” Kohli added.
In his illustrious IPL career spanning over 17 years, Karthik has played for six franchises. He made his debut in the inaugural season in 2008 with the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). He then played for Punjab in 2011 and went on to represent Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions, Kolkata Knight Riders, and RCB. He ended the ongoing season with 326 runs in 15 matches, boasting an average of 36.22 and a striking rate of 187.36.
