Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have long carried a reputation for strength across disciplines, and that confidence was fully justified as the franchise clinched its second straight Indian Premier League (IPL) title in 2026. RCB secured the trophy on Sunday by defeating the Gujarat Titans in the final. With a core group that included Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood, Rajat Patidar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Tim David and Krunal Pandya, the side’s ability to mount a serious title challenge never appeared in doubt. Still, when it came to identifying the team’s most dedicated “hardest worker,” all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer believes the credit should go to batting coach Dinesh Karthik.
Speaking about his experience of learning within RCB’s set-up, Venkatesh said the support staff stood out as the finest environment he has worked under. He highlighted the way communication is handled, the clarity around roles, and how staff members manage both players and pressure moments. Just as importantly, he pointed to an approach that encourages players to take ownership rather than simply follow instructions. Venkatesh joined RCB after a difficult IPL 2025 season with Kolkata Knight Riders, and his comments reflected how quickly he adapted to the franchise’s methods.
“Best, best. They’ve been the best support staff I’ve played with. Purely in terms of communication and role clarity. Handling of players. Handling of situations. And also empowering the players to make decisions. You know, sometimes, especially in India, we are used to coaches dictating situations, which is also necessary. But to empower the players to make their own decisions, to create an environment where the players feel empowered towards leadership—it’s something that these people have created,” said Venkatesh.
Among the staff members, Venkatesh singled out Dinesh Karthik as the one who impressed him most with sheer work ethic. Karthik took over as RCB’s batting coach immediately after finishing his playing career in 2024, and Venkatesh praised his relentless determination to improve the batters. In Venkatesh’s view, Karthik’s preparation and effort this season went beyond what he has seen from any other batting coach.
“DK, I think, if I had to point out who was the most hard-working person—of course, barring our logistics guys—it was Dinesh Karthik. Going out in the outside nets, working with batters, then coming back into the centre nets, talking to batters, throwing balls at them for drills… I’ve never seen a harder-working batting coach than DK.”
Venkatesh also offered praise for Andy, noting that his record speaks for itself and that he has consistently helped build a winning culture wherever he has worked. He then added that the glue holding the whole structure together, in his assessment, is Mo Bobat, pointing to the director of cricket’s role in driving RCB’s resurgence.
“Same goes for Andy. It’s an amazing resume that he has. So many championships, they speak for themselves, right? Obviously, wherever he’s gone, he has created a winning culture. And the key that holds this together, I feel, is Mo Bobat. His being the director of cricket, the way he has led this entire RCB resurgence has been nothing short of phenomenal,” said Venkatesh.
