“RAJAT LIKES TO BE A STAR, NOT A SUPERSTAR; HE LETS SENIOR PLAYERS GO FRONT AND CENTRE”: DINESH KARTHIK

Royal Challengers Bengaluru became the third team in TATA IPL history to successfully defend their title, going back-to-back with a victory over Gujarat Titans in the Final in Ahmedabad. Speaking on JioHotstar’s Google Search AI Mode Match Centre Live, JioStar expert AB de Villiers and RCB’s Batting Coach and Mentor, Dinesh Karthik, weighed in on Virat Kohli’s Player of the Match-winning knock in the final, Rajat Patidar’s captaincy, and the role of experienced players in helping RCB secure their second title.

Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Google Search AI Mode Match Centre Live’, Dinesh Karthik spoke about the experienced players taking responsibility and getting the job done:

“We have a lot of skill in the room. We’re a very well-rounded team, both batting and bowling. We’ve tried to make sure most of the boxes are ticked in terms of the power we have and the skill we possess with the ball. It was great to see someone like Bhuvi bring his experience to the fore from game one right through to the end, he was always there for us. Hazlewood started in a certain way but finished strongly for us. Virat, under pressure and in a big chase, stood up yet again. That’s why he’s called the King. You can see youngsters playing a lot of different shots, but it was him who brought solidity to the chase. GT wanted one wicket. They knew that if they got Virat at any point, the game would be different for them. He withstood that pressure, and that tells you everything you need to know about him.”

On having quality backups for each spot:

“Ideally, I might not want another mega auction, but there’s a lot of planning that goes into it. It’s one thing to have a good starting XII, but you always know that in a tournament like this, there could be an injury, a player arriving late, or someone dealing with family issues, and you need to be prepared for all of that. Across skill sets, we had some really good backups. When Salty left, Bethell came in. When Bethell got injured, Venkatesh Iyer came in. When Josh Hazlewood wasn’t around, Duffy was there, who was the World No. 1 T20 bowler. Rasikh Salam didn’t get a game for us last year, but this year, the way he has come in under pressure, constantly bowling tough overs and standing up to the challenge, has been impressive. He’s got that character, and it emanates from the way we practise and the clarity Mo and Andy have given to a lot of the players.”

On two-time TATA IPL-winning Captain Rajat Patidar:

“Rajat has been a huge calming influence in a dressing room that is high-octane and high testosterone. He keeps things very calm, and that’s so important. The bowlers thrive when you have a calm captain; it definitely helps under pressure. I think he likes to be a star, not a superstar. There are plenty of guys in that team who are big names and get the job done in high-pressure situations. The only time Rajat is aggressive is when he’s batting. Other than that, he brings a very calm atmosphere and is happy for a lot of the senior players to go front and centre, which I believe is a very important trait in a leader. He just sits back, allows things to get done, and does exactly what needs to be done in that moment.”

Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Google Search AI Mode Match Centre Live’, JioStar expert AB de Villiers shared his thoughts on RCB winning back-to-back titles:

“It was a lot easier than last year, that’s for sure. Last year was emotional, and we weren’t sure what was going to happen. This year, when I saw Virat before the start of the game, there was a bit more quiet confidence. We’ve been here before, now we know how it works and what the formula is. And what a remarkable achievement, back-to-back IPL champions. I couldn’t be prouder.”

On the Player of the Match, Virat Kohli’s knock:

“In a final, if you take him out of that chasing batting order, then everything looks a bit different. With Rashid Khan firing from one end, and some of the other GT bowlers also doing really well, he just brings that calmness. He knows how to pace a chase right through the innings and finish it off. And it’s very fitting that he was there right at the end, scoring the winning runs. GT were a bit naughty in feeding him into his strengths. A lot of deliveries were on the legs in his first 20-30 runs. If you give one of the best players of all time a start like that, he’s always going to punish you. Once he started flowing, it was just plain sailing, one-way traffic. To be there at the end and call those final moments was absolutely phenomenal.”

Catch the full interview with Dinesh Karthik exclusively on JioHotstar