Royal Challengers Bengaluru mentor and batting coach Dinesh Karthik lauded his team’s intent and body language, saying they “played like champions” after RCB crushed Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday to seal a spot in their second consecutive IPL final.
Addressing the squad inside the dressing room at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium after the commanding victory, Karthik commended RCB’s fearless cricket and aggressive mindset from ball one. He was joined by opener Devdutt Padikkal during the post-match address, though the left-hander briefly slipped up and nearly forgot to mention Krunal Pandya while calling out the key performers.
Record-Breaking Performance
RCB set the tone with 254/5, the highest team total in IPL playoff history. Their bowlers backed it up by dismissing Gujarat Titans for 162, completing a comprehensive 92-run win.
“This was a clinical effort, a professional effort,” Karthik told the team. “A one-versus-two playoff game is always a big game, but we played like champions, and I think we can make it happen that day,” he added, looking ahead to the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad.
Intent From Ball One
Karthik specifically pointed to the batting unit’s attacking approach right from the start. He said RCB never let Gujarat settle, keeping the pressure on through the innings. The team’s strong body language and clarity in execution stood out, according to the mentor.
The dressing room speech captured the mood of a side that has now won the high-stakes Qualifier 1 to move into the final. With momentum on their side and belief running high, Karthik made it clear RCB intend to carry the same champion mentality into the title clash. Padikkal’s Near Miss in Praise While praising individual contributions alongside Karthik, Devdutt Padikkal listed several top performers from the game. In the process, he momentarily missed naming Krunal Pandya, who had played a key role with both bat and ball in the win, before correcting himself.
‘We Played Like Champions’: Dinesh Karthik Hails RCB’s Dominant Mindset After 92-Run Win Sends Them to Second Straight IPL Final
