Dinesh Karthik is among a handful of active players who were part of the inaugural Indian Premier League season in 2008. The experienced wicket-keeper batter has been part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squad since 2022, after having captained Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and representing Mumbai Indians, Kings XI Punjab, Gujarat Lions and Delhi Daredevils over the years.
Karthik, 38, recently touched upon the issue of toxic fans and trolls in a YouTube interaction with fellow Tamil Nadu star Ravichandran Ashwin. A bad performance would result in a fan, who would otherwise make you feel like you are the best player in the world, turning hostile and attacking not just him but his family, Karthik said.
"On a personal level, that same fan (who had earlier adored you) will abuse me silently in DMs every day, rather than on a one-on-one note. He will go hard at me if I don't do well for RCB; he will smash me, not just me, my family, and whoever is possible in my life. But to the outside world, They will not give up an RCB player," Hindustan Times quoted Karthik as saying during the YouTube session.
Karthik's RCB are currently ninth spot with four defeats and one win (2 points). They registered three loses on trot and are above bottom-placed Delhi Capitals due to better NRR. They are up against Mumbai Indians next at the Wankhede on April 11, Thursday.