Former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Kartik is set to begin his coaching journey in the London Spirit’s men’s team as batting coach and mentor for the 2026 Hunderd tournament. London Spirit has incorporated Kartik into the team as part of significant changes to their backroom staff ahead of the tournament.
Sports News: Former IPL batting coach of RCB, Dinesh Kartik is set to play a significant role in the Hunderd tournament. London Spirit has appointed him as the men’s team’s batting coach and mentor. Dinesh Kartik, who was also in a similar role with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) support staff, will reunite with head coach Andy Flower and cricket director Mo Bafat, also appointed in similar roles within the IPL franchise.
New Hopes for London Spirit
London Spirit’s performance has been quite weak in 2024 and 2025. The team finished in eighth place in 2024 and seventh in 2025, winning only one and three matches respectively. The team’s cricket director, Mo Bafat, and head coach, Andy Flower, stated that Kartik’s arrival will strengthen the batting department and provide a new perspective to young players. Mo Bafat said,
“We are delighted to welcome DK Kartik to London Spirit. He is a fundamentally thinking player in the game, and his extensive experience in T20 cricket and franchise cricket will be invaluable to us. It’s a pleasure to work with him, as he brings energy and enthusiasm to everything he does.”
Dinesh Kartik has previously worked as a batting coach for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL franchise. His experience in T20 cricket and franchise cricket makes him crucial for London Spirit. Kartik, along with head coach Andy Flower and cricket director Mo Bafat, will work together to strengthen the team’s batting department. Kartik stated,
“It’s incredibly exciting to be joining London Spirit! Working in England during the summer at Lord’s is truly a dream come true. That’s the ground where I made my debut for India and also played my last Test match. I’m eagerly looking forward to seeing the team come together and working with some exceptional cricketers next year.”
The sixth edition of the Hunderd will feature a players’ auction for the first time. Before the auction, each of the eight franchises has been granted the opportunity to pre-sign four players each. Subsequently, a bidding process will be conducted for the remaining players, allowing teams to formulate their strategies and build a balanced squad.
London Spirit has secured only four wins in 16 matches across 2024 and 2025. The team’s performance has been consistently weak in the past two seasons, prompting the management to make changes to the backroom staff. With Kartik’s arrival, the team is expected to gain a new direction in batting, and the confidence of the players will also increase.
