Former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton joked that Dinesh Karthik would be impossible to handle if RCB finally ended their trophy drought by winning the IPL.
Dinesh Karthik in the Spotlight as RCB Eyes Maiden IPL Title
Rajat Patidar-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is on the brink of history as they aim to clinch their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title. After defeating Punjab Kings by eight wickets in Qualifier 1 in Mullanpur, RCB advanced to the IPL 2025 final, where they will face either Punjab Kings or Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, June 3.
Amid the buzz, former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton shared a light-hearted moment on the Sky Sports Podcast, joking about how unbearable Dinesh Karthik might be if RCB finally lifts the trophy. Karthik, who was appointed RCB’s batting coach ahead of the season, has played a key role in the team’s turnaround. His mentorship has drawn praise, including from Jitesh Sharma, who credited Karthik for helping him improve during the league stage clash against Lucknow Super Giants.
Drawing a humorous comparison, Atherton quipped that Karthik might emulate former Chelsea footballer John Terry, who famously joined the 2012 Champions League celebrations in full kit despite not playing the final. Hussain added, “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.” Atherton agreed, saying, “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.”
"DK is going to be unbearable if they win the IPL!" 🤣
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) May 31, 2025
Will 2025 finally be the year for Dinesh Karthik's RCB? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/MbzMo9vUqG
Dinesh Karthik reacts
Rajat Patidar-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is chasing their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title, having sealed a spot in the 2025 final with a dominant eight-wicket win over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 at Mullanpur. They will face either Punjab Kings or Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, June 3.
Amid the excitement, former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton stirred laughter with their podcast banter, joking about how “unbearable” Dinesh Karthik might be if RCB finally lifts the trophy. Atherton likened Karthik to John Terry, referencing the footballer’s iconic 2012 Champions League celebration. “He’ll be at the front of the RCB trophy presentation, holding it there with Virat Kohli,” Atherton quipped. Hussain added, “One season as coach/mentor, and he’s won it!”
Karthik, now RCB’s batting coach, took the light-hearted teasing in stride. Responding on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote in just six words: “This podcast needs some young energy.” His witty reply added to the charm of RCB’s feel-good campaign.
🤔🤔🤔
— DK (@DineshKarthik) May 31, 2025
This podcast needs some young energy #comingsoon https://t.co/ik4n30tJMM
Earlier, Karthik opened up about what it means to be part of RCB’s setup. “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,” he said in a video shared on RCB’s official handle. “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.”