Veteran keeper Dinesh Karthik is among the few players to participate in the IPL since its inception in 2008. He recently opened up about the love-hate relationship he has had with Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans.
Karthik began his IPL career with the Delhi Daredevils (now the Delhi Capitals), and then played for Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians. He joined RCB in 2014, though he later captained KKR before returning to Bengaluru.
Ahead of the IPL 2022 season, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru spent heavily to buy Karthik and gave him the finishing role.
Despite their trophyless cabinet, the Bengaluru-based franchise has amassed one of the biggest fanbases.
In a conversation with Ravichandran Ashwin, Karthik spoke about the behaviour of the RCB fans.
“RCB fans are fiercely loyal. They are like family, for better or worse. The good side is that they always cheer for me and make me feel like the greatest player alive. No matter what others say, RCB fans will never give up on their players. If someone criticizes one of us, the fans will come to our defence. Their unwavering support uplifts us even during tough times on the field.”
However, Karthik exposed the toxic culture in the RCB fanbase by revealing that some fans had abused him.
“Some of the fans have personally abused me daily through silent DMs instead of one-on-one communication. If I underperform for RCB, they will threaten not only me but also my family and anyone else in my life,” he added.
Karthik also revealed that RCB fans are a standout compared to other franchises.
“The fan base for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru is truly remarkable, especially considering the team has only been around for 16 years. As someone who has been a part of many teams, I can say that while all teams have fans, the passion and loyalty of RCB supporters stands out as incredible. For the RCB faithful, this team holds a very special place in their hearts.