Virat Kohli Receives ‘5-Minute Lecture’ from Dinesh Karthik in IPL Final—Backfires Immediately

Virat Kohli Receives ‘5-Minute Lecture’ from Dinesh Karthik: Former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain poked fun at Dinesh Karthik for his supposed ‘lecture’ to talismanic batter Virat Kohli, which didn't work out well as discussed in a podcast interaction on Monday, June 16. Notably, Karthik was appointed as the mentor and batting coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), as they took down Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the finale clash to take home their first-ever title. Kohli, who was the highest run-getter for RCB, scored a 43 (35) against PBKS, which was deemed to be slow by T20 standards.

The world saw Kohli breaking down in tears even before RCB's victory was sealed. But what many tend to forget is just how crucial his knock of 43 was. Kohli top-scored for RCB, scoring three fours during his 35-ball stay. In terms of strike-rate, Kohli's innings may not have been brisk, but given the nature of the wicket, his contribution ensured RCB finished in 190/9, a total that proved to be just about enough. In between, when Kohli seemed to have gotten stuck, during the strategic time-out, the entire RCB coaching set-up, including head coach Andy Flower and batting coach Dinesh Karthik, joined in. In fact, Karthik could be seen having an animated chat with Kohli.

However, irrespective of the discussion, it didn't help Kohli, as he got out the very next over. Returning on the Sky Sports podcast with England legends Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain, Karthik was grilled for his chat with Kohli, with the former captains trying their best to get an answer out of DK. Here's how the conversation ensued.

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Atherton and Hussain, who were discussing the India vs England series, brought up the topic in a Sky Sports podcast, ragging Karthik for ‘telling what to do’ to ‘one of the greatest batters’.

“Before the final, I predicted that if RCB won, you would be right at the front holding the trophy, which turned out to be true, and Virat Kohli was right at the back, but you won the trophy," Atherton said. “And secondly, in that final, what I noticed was, in a strategic timeout, you spent a long time telling Virat Kohli what to do. He was at the crease, and you spent a long time, I saw you there, pointing at him, and I think he was out the very next over, after your five-minute lecture. Tell me what you said to him," he added.

Karthik had no answer and could only laugh uncontrollably.

“This is probably the hardest question I’ve been asked on a podcast. The first part, at least, I can manage. The second part, I’m trying to think, without getting scared for my life, I need to say the right answer," Karthik said.

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He then asked Atherton what he thought the mentor was telling Kohli, and the Englishman doubled down.

“I just thought, what is this man telling one of the greatest batters that has ever walked the earth? What can he possibly be telling him? And then I thought, whatever he told him didn’t work, because he was out the very next over," he added.

“I think it’s the first time ever that you haven’t got an answer. You’re silent," Hussain quipped.

This wasn't the first instance of Kohli and Karthik engaging in an unusual activity. Earlier during the season, in a match against the Rajasthan Royals, Kohli, while fielding, had to turn down a request from Karthik. In fact, Kohli folded his hands and refused to listen to DK. No one knows what the conversation was about, but if X was to be scanned, some posts from fans suggested that Karthik probably wanted Kohli to roll his arms over and try and bowl an over.

After the match, when RCB won, Karthik brushed it all under the carpet and said, "If that man puts his mind to something, the way he adapts, understands situations, I am too small a person to even speak about him. He is an absolutely champion."

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