Lucknow Super Giants pacer Prince Yadav shared a heartwarming moment with Virat Kohli after dismissing the Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting superstar with a peach of a delivery during their IPL 2026 clash at the Ekana Stadium on Thursday.
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Shortly after LSG sealed a thrilling nine-run win under the DLS method, Kohli was seen chatting with Prince and Lucknow bowling coach Bharat Arun near the boundary ropes.
The former India captain appeared relaxed and cheerful, even placing his hand on the shoulder of the 24-year-old pacer in what seemed like an appreciative gesture after the youngster’s sensational spell.
For Prince, May 7 is likely to remain one of the most memorable nights of his young career. Bowling just his second delivery to Kohli, the LSG speedster produced a stunning 140-kmph ball that jagged back sharply to crash into the off stump. The delivery left Kohli completely beaten and silenced the Ekana crowd momentarily.
Kohli’s dismissal for a duck was significant for multiple reasons. It was his first IPL duck since April 2023 and his first zero while chasing in the tournament after nine years. The previous occasion came during RCB’s infamous collapse for 49 against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2017 at Eden Gardens.
LSG had earlier posted a commanding 209 for 3, powered by Mitchell Marsh’s brilliant 111. Despite a spirited chase from RCB, Lucknow held their nerve to restrict them to 203 for 6 in 19 overs.
Interestingly, Prince revealed after the match that Kohli himself had previously advised him on the areas he should target while bowling, advice the youngster put to perfect use at the Ekana.
“I felt good after the (Kohli) wicket, but I am most happy that we won the match. If I had taken the wicket and we had lost, it wouldn’t have been so good,” Prince said at the post-match press conference.
“Whether it’s a different way or one way, when a bowler takes a wicket, it feels good. But as I said earlier, if the situation was such that we could have won the match only if we had taken the wicket, that’s what happened and I am feeling good,” he added.
Some commentators even described Prince’s delivery to Kohli as one of the best balls of the tournament so far.
The youngster is enjoying a breakout IPL campaign and now has 16 wickets this season, just one behind Purple Cap leaders Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Anshul Kamboj, who both have 17 wickets.
Prince also credited senior India pacer Mohammed Shami for helping him improve with the new ball.
“I learned a lot from him about the new ball. But the best thing about him is that whenever a bowler is bowling, he stands at mid-on or mid-off. So, if such an experienced player is standing with you, there is a different level of confidence,” Prince said.
“We are not thinking much about the playoffs, but we are thinking about taking it match-by-match,” he added.
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