Follow UsRoyal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batting coach and mentor Dinesh Karthik has lauded the role the Indian Premier League (IPL) has played among the Indian players. He feels that the tournament has brought a winning mentality among all the players.
“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 at the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit.
“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. Right now, India is in a very privileged place where they have such a good assortment of cricketers across skill sets.”
Recalling the days he spent with Australia great Glenn McGrath during his initial days in the IPL, Karthik said it was key in shaping the approach to his game.
“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, that helped the confidence and mindset of competing with the best,” he said.
RCB will be in action on the opening day of IPL 2025, when they take on defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens on March 22.
