IPL 2025: Dinesh Karthik backs Virat Kohli against CSK spin, shares Chepauk anecdote
Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting coach Dinesh Karthik dismissed concerns over Virat Kohli’s supposed struggles against spin, asserting that the star batter is well-prepared to take on Chennai Super Kings’ formidable spin trio in their highly anticipated IPL 2025 clash in Chennai on Friday, March 28. Kohli has begun the new season in fine style, smashing a brisk fifty in RCB’s victory over Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday.
Addressing the media in Chennai on Thursday, Karthik stated that Kohli’s ability to dominate the ODI World Cup and play a crucial role in India’s Champions Trophy triumph this year is proof that he handles spin well.
Kohli was India’s second-highest run-scorer in their Champions Trophy-winning campaign, amassing 218 runs in five matches, including a century against Pakistan. At the 2023 World Cup, he broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most runs in a single edition, scoring 765 runs.
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In RCB’s IPL 2025 opener against KKR, Kohli looked assured against the spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, scoring 59 off 36 balls and leading his team to a commanding chase of 175 in just 16.2 overs.
“He’s coming off some serious runs in the Champions Trophy. He has batted well recently against spin, especially in white-ball cricket. So, I don’t want to go too deep into stats,” Karthik said.
“I’m not very aware, but if I remember, in the World Cup final, he got runs where it mattered. And apart from that, in the Champions Trophy, he had a good tournament, second-highest run-getter (for India). And that doesn’t come without playing spin because, in Dubai, as you all know how well it helped the spinners, he was very aware. So, I believe right now, he is batting as well as he has ever done,” he added.
Kohli has faced criticism over his scoring rate against spin in the IPL’s middle overs in recent years. However, he has worked on refining his game, reintroducing sweeps and slog sweeps to counter spin threats effectively.
KARTHIK SHARES INCREDIBLE KOHLI ANECTODE
Highlighting Kohli’s hunger for improvement, Karthik shared an anecdote from the practice session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
“Even today, just now as I came out, he wanted to work on one more shot. At this point in time, to work on one more shot tells you the hunger that he has in his mindset,” Karthik said on the eve of the RCB vs CSK clash.
“He wants to just improve and keep raising the bar. So, he is a special player. And at this point in time, the way I see it, he is batting as confidently and as well as he has ever done in the IPL.”
Kohli was seen working tirelessly in the nets on Wednesday, facing three different types of spinners as he geared up for CSK’s spin attack. He is set for a stern challenge against Noor Ahmad, who marked his CSK debut with a four-wicket haul, as well as spin stalwarts Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin on what is expected to be a turning track in Chennai.
RCB will be banking on Kohli to fire as they aim to end their 13-year-long winless streak against CSK in Chennai.
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