March 14, 2025: Former Indian cricketer and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Dinesh Karthik has praised the Indian Premier League (IPL) for not only changing the mindset of Indian cricketers but also contributing to the growth of infrastructure in Indian cricket. Karthik, who currently serves as the batting coach and mentor for RCB, highlighted the immense impact of the IPL on shaping the future of the sport in India.
During a conversation with Mo Bobat, Director of Cricket at RCB, and former England cricketer Isa Guha at the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit, Karthik shared his views on how the IPL has transformed Indian cricket over the years. He pointed out that the tournament has instilled a “winning mentality” among Indian cricketers, which has elevated their level of performance.
“The IPL has brought out a winning mentality in all our players. With the influx of money and the financial benefits that a lot of the teams receive, and in turn the stakeholders, a lot of it has been put back in infrastructure. So, when infrastructure grows, eventually the quality of sport develops as well,” Karthik said.
The IPL, now a vital part of Indian cricket, has also played a pivotal role in the overall development of the sport in the country, according to Karthik. He believes that the league has allowed India to develop a deep pool of talent, enabling the nation to field multiple competitive teams at the international level. “We can say that since the IPL has become a part of Indian cricket’s fabric, they can now field two to three teams in international cricket at the same time, and almost compete with each one of them,” Karthik added.
Reflecting on his own experiences in the early years of the IPL, Karthik spoke about how spending time with legendary Australian pacer Glenn McGrath shaped his approach to the game. Karthik, who was part of the Delhi Capitals (DC) squad in the initial years of the IPL, recalled the impact of playing alongside McGrath. “For me, the whole ideology of how Australia played at that time was a massive shock. They felt like a pack of wolves out to win every game. But with IPL, in my first year, I got to spend time with Glenn McGrath in close quarters and practice with him, I got to know him better and became comfortable, which helped the confidence and mindset of competing with the best,” he shared.
The RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit, which is currently underway in Bengaluru, is bringing together leaders from various sports to discuss the future of Indian sports. The second edition of the summit is taking place on March 14-15 at the Padukone Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence.
Karthik’s comments emphasize the significant role that the IPL has played in reshaping Indian cricket, not only in terms of player development but also by creating a competitive, infrastructure-driven environment that nurtures talent across the country.
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