Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting coach and mentor Dinesh Karthik has expressed confidence in Virat Kohli’s ability to handle the spin challenges very well against CSK. RCB and CSK will square off against each other in the eighth match of the IPL, scheduled to be played on Friday at Chepauk. Spin is expected to dominate the proceedings in Chennai, but Karthik believes that Kohli, in recent times, has adjusted himself very well against spin. Kohli recently proved that by demonstrating his batting prowess against spinners when he scored an impressive 59 unbeaten in RCB’s last match against KKR.

Meanwhile, Karthik also highlighted Kohli’s recent success in big-ticket tournaments such as T20I WC and Champions Trophy. Kohli had stood up for the side in the T20I WC 2024 final against South Africa, hitting 76. And most recently, in the Champions Trophy 2025, where spin remained on top, Kohli powered his way to 218, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer for India. 

"He's coming off some serious runs in the Champions Trophy. He has batted well in recent past against spin, especially in white-ball cricket. So, I don't want to go too deep into stats," Karthik said during the press conference ahead of CSK vs RCB match.   

"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 said.

Karthik also lauded Kohli's hunger for improvement. 

‘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.

"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."