Former England captain Michael Atherton chastised Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batting coach and mentor Dinesh Karthik for his extended talk with Indian legend Virat Kohli during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final against Punjab Kings (PBKS).
The wicketkeeper-batsman was spotted chatting with Kohli during a strategic timeout, but his advice appeared to have no effect, as Kohli was removed in the following over. When questioned about the incident, Karthik chuckled and attempted to avoid the topic.
“Before the final, I had a sense that if RCB won, you’d be at the front, holding the trophy, and that’s precisely how it turned out. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli was at the rear, but you still won the trophy,” Atherton stated.
“Then, in the final, something piqued my interest. During a deliberate break, you spent a large amount of time talking with Virat Kohli when he was at the crease. I spotted you gesturing at him for quite some time before he was dismissed. What did you say to him? Atherton asked on Sky Sports.
‘What is this man telling one of the greatest batters that has ever walked the earth?’ 😆
What was DK saying to Virat Kohli in the IPL final? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/UdI9lhEbue
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 16, 2025
Dinesh Karthik commented that he did not want to put himself in risk by providing the incorrect response.
“That is probably the most difficult question I’ve ever been asked on a podcast.” I can at least tackle the first part. But for the second question, I’m trying to think carefully so that I don’t put myself in risk by giving the wrong response,” Karthik said.
Nasser Hussain, a former England captain, too had his say when Karthik struggled to answer the question. Atherton went on to say that one cannot say anything to a renowned batsman like Kohli.
“I believe it is the first time I have seen you silent. “You aren’t saying anything,” Hussain said.
“I was just wondering what this man could be saying to one of cricket’s greatest batters? What advise might he provide him? And then I knew that whatever he said wasn’t working because he was out in the next over,” Atherton explained.
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