Virat Kohli has doffed his hat to Dinesh Karthik, saluting the just-retired cricketer as a “wise man” who is “honest” and “courageous”.
Karthik, 38, retired from the game after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lost the IPL 2024 Eliminator contest against Rajasthan Royals. Karthik had joined RCB for a second stint in 2022.
Kohli looked back to share his experiences with the keeper-batter.
“Off the field, I have had some really nice and interesting conversations with him (Karthik). He is a wise man, and has great knowledge about a lot of things, not just cricket,” Kohli said in a special tribute video posted by RCB.
The video also features tributes from Karthik’s wife Dipika Pallikal Karthik, his mentor Abhishek Nayar, RCB assistant coach Malolan Rangarajan and fitness coach Shanker Basu.
Kohli recalled his conversations with Karthik during the 2022 season when the former RCB captain averaged just 22.73 scoring 341 runs from 16 matches.
“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 just gave me a very honest explanation of how he saw things that maybe I am not able to see them myself,” Kohli added.
Karthik has been involved in all the editions of the IPL since the inaugural 2008 season and has represented six franchises, including the Kolkata Knight Riders. He ended with 4,842 runs in 257 matches with 22 fifties.
“I just like his honesty, his courage to go and speak to anyone about things that he really feels about. And that, I think, is the most special thing for me when it comes to Dinesh.
“And that’s something that I’ve always cherished about him. That’s why we get along really, really well,” Kohli summed up.
About Karthik the batter, Kohli said: “I always looked at Dinesh and felt like he
was such a correct player technically.”
