Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) campaign in the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) has been nothing short of spectacular. For a franchise long mocked for underachieving, this year has been about rewriting the narrative.
RCB finished second on the points table in the league stage. But the real headline-grabber? They became the first team in the IPL history to win all of their away games.
Much of the credit off the field has gone to Dinesh Karthik, who joined the team as mentor and batting coach ahead of the season. His tactical awareness, calm presence, and behind-the-scenes influence have earned him respect across the cricketing world, but also some playful digs from Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton.
Unbearable DK Loading? Former England Captains Troll Dinesh Karthik as RCB Reach IPL 2025 Final
Karthik, known for his sharp cricketing brain, has drawn praise for his role in this turnaround. But not without some light-hearted jabs. On the Sky Sports Podcast, former England captain Nasser Hussain humorously stated that Karthik will be "unbearable" if RCB win the title in his first stint as the team's mentor.
"RCB have got through to the finals. If they win that, DK is going to be unbearable. One season as coach/mentor, and he’s won it," Hussain said as quoted on the Sky Sports Podcast.
Michael Atherton, Hussain’s podcast co-host and fellow ex-England skipper, took the banter up a notch with a cheeky comparison. He compared Karthik to Chelsea legend John Terry, who is famous for the 2012 Champions League celebration.
"He’s unbearable at the best of times, he’s going to be doubly unbearable. He’ll be like John Terry, at the front of the RCB trophy presentation, holding it there with Virat Kohli," Atherton opined.
Hussain and Atherton’s comments drew laughter, clearly meant in jest, poking fun at Karthik and his celebration if RCB do go all the way.
Dinesh Karthik’s Rebuttal
Karthik, never one to back down from banter, replied in kind. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the RCB mentor delivered a quick retort:
"This podcast needs some young energy."
As revealed by Karthik, his deeper motivation for joining RCB as mentor in IPL 2025 has been about unfinished business. In a video shared on RCB’s official social media handle, he opened up about the emotional weight of returning to the franchise in a new role.
"Being part of RCB is a very special feeling. Purely because of the brand of cricket that we play, but also the fans that we have. And most importantly, it's a journey that's been filled with lots of highs and lows," said Karthik as quoted in a video posted by RCB on social media.
"But the trophy hadn't reached the shores of Bangalore yet. If I could be part of that journey, why not? That was a big question in my mind. I know how close we were when I played. So here's another opportunity for me as a coach," he added.
RCB’s journey to the final included a dominant performance in the Qualifier 1, where they bowled out Punjab Kings (PBKS) for just 101 runs and then successfully chased it down in just 10 overs. This ruthless display sealed their place in the final, their first since 2016.
The team has looked balanced and unified throughout, and it would be a travesty if they do not end up lifting the trophy on June 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
