Ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, an uncapped Indian batting sensation has revealed something big about Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). After the revelation, it is believed that the batter has a chance to join the IPL 2025 winning team. 

Before the upcoming Indian Premier League auction, there are multiple emerging cricketers who grabbed the attention of the Indian cricket fans. Some of them went for the trials arranged by the IPL franchises. Kartik Sharma is one of the emerging batters who creates a lot of buzz on social media platforms nowadays. 

Sharma has established himself as a prolific batting prospect who played for Rajasthan in Indian domestic cricket. 2025 has turned out as a landmark year for the batter as he performed brilliantly for Rajasthan in multiple matches. If we look at his batting stats, it is understandable why Sharma is worth an IPL contract for the upcoming season. 

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Who is Kartik Sharma?

Kartik Sharma, a 19-year-old batter, is making headlines after an online conversation. He claimed that Dinesh Karthik, batting coach of RCB, messaged him. "My favorite franchise is RCB & I got a message from DK Sir," he said. 

In the last month, Kartik smashed a couple of centuries for the Rajasthan cricket team—120 vs Delhi and 139 vs Mumbai. These two hundred-plus runs against two big teams are proof of his batting talent. Through the domestic matches, the middle-order batter not only showed his batting techniques and resilience but also displayed his hitting abilities. Whenever he spotted a loose ball, he loved to go big. It was previously reported that Kartik was in one of RCB's trials ahead of the auction.

The former T20 World Cup winner of the Indian cricket team, Dinesh Karthik, has been named the mentor and the batting coach of the Men’s The Hundred team, London Spirit, in what is his first support-staff role with a franchise outside the Indian Premier League. Karthik recently won the IPL 2025 with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the very first time.

Karthik is a prominent broadcaster and commentator who had a similar role with the RCB side during the IPL 2026 after finishing his career in the IPL in 2024. He is also an active cricketer and is currently playing the International League T20 for the Sharjah Warriorz in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

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“It's a pleasure to welcome DK to London Spirit. He is a truly original thinker in our game, and his vast experience in short-format and franchise cricket will be invaluable to us. He's also great fun to work with and brings an infectious energy and enthusiasm to everything he does.” The Spirit director of cricket, Mo Bobat, expressed in a statement.

Dinesh Karthik named mentor and batting coach of London Spirits for The Hundred 2026

It hasn’t been a great event for the Spirits, who haven’t made it into the title round of the five-season-old The Hundred. But Karthik’s presence could end up being the turning point as they signed some exciting players- David Warner and Kane Williamson- in the last season.

“What an exciting time to be joining London Spirit. When I heard about the plans and the ambitions of Mo, MCC, and the Tech Titans, I was really enthusiastic to join. To spend the English summer working at Lord's is truly a dream come true. It is the ground where I made my debut for India, and I played my last Test match - Lord's is very close to my heart.” Karthik reckoned.

The Chennai-born has been a veteran of 414 T20s with 7554 runs in 366 innings at an average of 26.88 and a strike rate of 136.52, thanks to 35 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 97 runs.

The International League T20 returns to the UAE after just 10 months. The tournament has been moved forward by over a month because of the T20 World Cup. The new window improves player availability from Australia, South Africa, India, and other nations. Since the league starts before the Big Bash League and SA20, a few former Indian players have also joined the fourth edition.

The competition is becoming more global. Players from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are taking part for the first time. Many Australian, South African, and other overseas players, who usually play in the BBL and SA20, have chosen the ILT20 this season. A few retired Indian players have also signed up.

Dinesh Karthik, who played in the SA20 for Paarl Royals earlier this year, continues his playing career. He is also working as a coach and commentator. Karthik was signed by Sharjah Warriorz as a replacement for Kusal Mendis and was pre-signed before the auction.

Also Read -ILT20 2025-26 Live Telecast: How and Where to Watch International League T20 on TV and Online in India

Dinesh Karthik Joins Sharjah Warriorz

"I am very excited to be joining the Sharjah Warriorz team for the ILT20 tournament. I know they are a young team, aspiring to do some special things, and I am happy to be here," Karthik said in a Warriorz statement.

He will be the first capped Indian player to represent the Warriorz. Before him, Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan (Dubai Capitals) and Ambati Rayudu (MI Emirates) featured in earlier seasons.

Karthik will play alongside Tim David, Sikandar Raza, Matheesha Pathirana, Mark Chapman, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Tim Southee.

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Piyush Chawla Strengthens Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

Piyush Chawla was signed as a wildcard pick by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders ahead of the auction. The spinner, who played for Kolkata Knight Riders from 2014 to 2019, returns to the KKR family in a new tournament after six years. He will join former India U19 World Cup-winning captain Unmukt Chand, who now represents the USA and also plays for the Knight Riders’ MLC team.

The side will be led by Jason Holder and features big names like Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, Alex Hales and Sherfane Rutherford, along with franchise stars Andre Russell and Sunil Narine.

Under the leadership of Dinesh Karthik, Team India started their Hong Kong Sixes campaign with a 2-run win (via DLS) on November 7. But the next day was disappointing as they lost three matches in a row – against UAE, Kuwait, and Nepal.

India had big players like Robin Uthappa, Priyank Panchal, Abhimanyu Mithun, Stuart Binny, Shahbaz Nadeem, Bharat Chipli, and the captain Dinesh Karthik. But the veteran players could not perform well, and the team was knocked out of the tournament.

Also Read -List of fastest players to score 1000 runs ft. Abhishek Sharma

India Suffers Heavy Defeats at Hong Kong Sixes

Saturday started badly for India as they lost 27 runs to Kuwait. India chose to bowl first but could not stop Yasin Patel. He scored 58 not out off 14 balls, including five sixes in the last over, helping Kuwait reach 106/5 in 6 overs. India struggled in reply and managed only 79/6 in 5.4 overs, despite a late 26-run cameo from Abhimanyu Mithun.

🚨 Nepal defeated India by 92 runs in the Hong Kong Sixes! 🤯🇳🇵🇮🇳#HongKongSixes pic.twitter.com/LNT87Wre1H

— ICC Asia Cricket (@ICCAsiaCricket) November 8, 2025

UAE & Kuwait defeated India in Hong Kong Sixes 🔥🤯 pic.twitter.com/BpFD7pI4da

— ShahJahan (@ShahJahanba56) November 8, 2025

Things got worse when India lost to UAE by 4 wickets just hours later. Mithun (50) and Dinesh Karthik (42) helped India post 107/3, but UAE’s Khalid Shah and Saghir Khan scored 42 runs in the first two overs, and UAE chased the total comfortably, reaching 111/2 in 5.5 overs.

India’s misery continued as Nepal thrashed them by 92 runs. Nepal scored a record 137/0 in 6 overs, the highest total of the tournament, while India could score only 45 runs. It was a day to forget for the Men in Blue.

India will now face Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Will Virat Kohli retire from the One Day International format as well after the India vs Australia series? Will he play in the ICC World Cup 2027? There are multiple questions linked with Virat Kohli's future in international cricket. Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik has a clear view on that with proper explanations. The former keeper-batter explained through his latest Instagram video why Virat Kohli will be a key part for India in the next ODI World Cup. With proper stats and examples of Kohli's dedication, Karthik tried to put some light on the burning topic—Virat Kohli's possible retirement. 

In the first week of October, BCCI's chief selector was asked about Rohit Sharma and Kohli's chances to play in the upcoming World Cup. Instead of offering a clear-cut reply, Agarkar provided more ingredients to make the speculations more complex. 

"I mean, that’s the format they are playing at the moment (Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma). We picked them, but as far as the 2027 World Cup is concerned. I don’t think we need to talk about it today. Obviously, with the captaincy change, that’s generally the thought," Ajit Agarkar said during a press conference. 

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Karthik, who is the mentor of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and a close one of Virat Kohli, shared that the batting maestro still has the hunger for scoring runs and rehearsed batting for 2-3 sessionsa week during the long layoff. 

Dinesh Karthik clears mystery over Virat Kohli's retirement 

"Virat is keen to play the World Cup; in London he was practicing hard during this long layoff, & I also know he was practicing cricket 2-3 sessions every week, as I was there," Karthik said. 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Dinesh Karthik (@dk00019)

Through the same video, Karthik paid a focus on some of Virat's numbers produced during the series against South Africa, where the pitch was a little bit 'spicy,' and the Champions Trophy 2025, where India emerged as the winner. According to the former cricketer, Virat Kohli was the main reason for the aggressive batting from Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and other batters of the team in the Champions Trophy 2025. 

The scorching heat of September at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi during the second Test between India and West Indies has made an effect on the Indian pacer, Mohammed Siraj, who collapsed on the floor, having been exhausted with two days’ of fielding in consecutive innings as India enforced the follow-on with the lead of 270 runs. The alarming moment came after Siraj’s six-over spell post lunch.

Siraj sent back Shai Hope in that spell. After completing the century, the right-handed batter was foxed by the short ball and got an inside edge into the stumps on the following day to get back into the dressing room for 103 runs. Siraj staggered back into the Indian dugout and slumped into the chair.

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It prompted an immediate medical attention from the team’s medical staff. An ice packet was parked on his head and face to lower the temperature as the physiotherapist messaged his feet to relax his muscles as the commentators, Dinesh Karthik and Ian Bishopr, saw the moment.

Dinesh Karthik calls Mohammed Siraj’s message king-like treatment during IND vs WI 2nd Test

Siraj picked up two wickets in the clash. Apart from the wicket of Hope, he drew the first blood with the wicket of Tagenarine Chanderpaul. The left-handed opening batter wasn’t fully committed to the pull shot and mistimed it into the hands of the mid-wicket field.

“What we see right now is the fast bowlers being treated like kings after a hard spell. It's the same case everywhere, by the way. I just need to let viewers know that it's not just on the ground, off the field, but also in the com box. We've got to be careful when you do that with Bish. The ice (needs to be placed) straight on the head to calm him down at times. For Bish and for Siraj.” Karthik commented during the clash.

Twin centuries from Hope and John Campbell helped the visitors post 390 in the second innings which set a target of 121 runs for the Indian side, who batted to decrease the goal to 58 runs for the fifth and final day to seal the series by 2-0.  

Another Murali Vijay-Dinesh Karthik-like episode to unfold in Indian cricket? Rumors have started to float around the Indian cricket circle. A recent claim in social media has sparked the speculations. It is claimed that a former cricketer is ready to start a new chapter with one of his friend's partners. Though, in the post, none of the names are revealed. So, as of now, netizens can only speculate about the probable name of the cricket personalities. 

Murali Vijay-Dinesh Karthik controversy: 

Indian cricket fans still can remember the days when Vijay and Karthik were in the headlines for their personal reasons. Both players, who were teammates in the Tamil Nadu domestic cricket, reportedly faced tension for their personal relationships related to events involving Karthik’s then-wife, Nikitha Vanjara. Karthik and Vanjara were friends from their childhood days and tied the knot in 2007.

After about 5 years of their marriage life, during the 2012 domestic season, it was reported that Vanjara grew a close relationship with his husband's teammate Murali Vijay. Shortly after the news broke out, Dinesh Karthik and Nikitha Vanjara officially parted ways. Later, Nikitha married Murali Vijay, and the couple has since built a family together.

28 सितंबर के बाद से भारतीय क्रिकेट में एक और मुरली-कार्तिक कांड चर्चा में है। एक पूर्व क्रिकेटर जो अपने दोस्त क्रिकेटर की हमसफर के साथ नए सफर पर निकलने को तैयार हैं। सबको पता है... कुछ को नहीं पता है...#IndianCricket

— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) October 7, 2025

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Despite the personal fallout, both Karthik and Vijay have maintained professionalism, having shared dressing rooms for Tamil Nadu and India after the incident without any public animosity. After the divorce, Karthik moved on with his life and married Indian squash star Dipika Pallikal in 2015, and Vijay continued his career in cricket. 

After a lot of discussion and rumors in the media and among their fans, both of the international cricketers never showed disrespect to each other and maintained out-and-out professionalism to date. 

The 6th edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) is returning later this year. After being suspended in July, the league will now take place from December 1 to 23, 2025. This will be the first time the LPL has taken place in the December window, giving fans more cricket to enjoy during the festive period. .

According to a report from IANS, the upcoming edition will feature a total of 24 matches, comprising 20 league fixtures and 4 knockout games, hosted across three premier venues – R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, and Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium in Dambulla. The report also added that Indian cricketers are also set to feature in the Lanka Premier League for the first time in history. "For the very first time, Indian cricketers are expected to join the action; their names will be revealed soon, adding a whole new level of excitement for fans across the region," a press release said.

It is likely that R Ashwin, Dinesh Karthik, and also the likes of Piyush Chawla will register their name for the LPL. Although, it is worth noting that in the past, Irfan Pathan has played in Sri Lanka's premier T20 league. “The timing of this edition has been carefully chosen to ensure that players gain maximum exposure and high-quality match practice in the lead-up to a global cricketing year. Over the seasons, the LPL has emerged as a breeding ground for fresh talent, with several youngsters making their mark alongside international stars. This year too, we believe the league will throw up exciting new names who can go on to spring surprises on the world stage ahead of the World Cup,” Samantha Dodanwela, Tournament Director, LPL, said.

Tournament promises exciting action

LPL Tournament Director Samantha Dodanwela said the timing of this season has been chosen carefully so players can gain good match experience before a busy cricketing year. The LPL has helped many young Sri Lankan players make a name for themselves, and this year’s edition is expected to do the same.

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The 2025 edition will feature five teams, but details about them are yet to be confirmed. Interestingly, the LPL will also clash with the ILT20 and BBL 2025–26, which could make player selection and scheduling quite interesting.

The Hong Kong Sixes 2025 will start from November 7 to 9. It’s a exciting sixes hitting cricket tournament, with each team playing six overs per match. In the last season in 2024, 12 international teams took part. They were split into four groups of three teams each, and every team played the other two teams in their group once. The top two teams from each group moved on to the quarter-finals, while the third-placed teams played in the Bowl league.

The two best teams from the Bowl league then played in the Bowl final. The winners of the quarter-finals went on to the semi-finals, and the semi-final winners played in the final. Teams that lost in the quarter-finals got another chance in the Plate semi-finals, with the winner moving on to the Plate final.

Hong Kong Sixes 2025: Tournament & Teams Details

BCCI named Shubman Gill as the captain of India's ODI team for the upcoming tour of Australia, where the Men in Blue brigade will play 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is. Rohit Sharma is in the ODI squad but not as a captain, only as a batsman. It is now official that Sharma is no longer the leader of the team. On the occasion, former India cricketer and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batting coach Dinesh Karthik thanked the Mumbaikar for the contributions he has made to take the Indian cricket team to glory. Karthik shared a video on Instagram where he explained how Rohit Sharma helped the team to shape up. Karthik said that Rohit taught the cricketers how to face tough moments. The batter as a leader always kept himself in front and was phenomenal in crucial matches. But more than that, it was Rohit Sharma's friendly nature that impressed Karthik most. 

"Rohit Sharma. Thank you so much. You were a phenomenal captain, tactically astute, but most importantly, very, very friendly and got along with everyone and made them feel so comfortable. But for me, the legacy that you've left as a captain. In those big moments, those big matches, you taught this current team what it takes to win," Dinesh Karthik said in his Instagram video. 

"At times we used to take the backwards step, but you said, 'I think we need to press forward, put more pressure on the opponent, and take more risks,' and you didn't leave it to anyone else." I think you started it with the bat when, in the big matches, you said, 'I'm going to go harder,' and that required skill. You got it done, and you did it consistently. In the last 3 multi-nation tournaments that we have played, India has lost just one game."

Read More: Former India player questions Rohit Sharma's captains snub ahead of ODI World Cup 2027

Dinesh Karthik mesmerized by the legacy of Rohit Sharma 

The former cricketer also put some focus on India's performances in ICC events under Sharma's captaincy. He gave a reminder about the ICC T20I World Cup 2024, the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, and the Asia Cup as well. 

Karthik added, "2024 T20 World Cup campaign unbeaten, Champions Trophy unbeaten. 2023, just that final. That is outstanding. And even after that you can see the aftereffects. Asia Cup unbeaten with a young team. That is what you've given this team, India. You've left it in a better place than what it was when you started, and that's always a great sign of a leader."