Prince Yadav has stood out for Lucknow Super Giants in a season that has otherwise been a struggle, and his latest impact came at a crucial moment against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The young fast bowler delivered a sharp, well-timed dismissal of Virat Kohli—one of the batters he has often spoken about admiring—helping LSG turn the contest in their favour as they defended a demanding 213-run target.
Key takeaways
- Prince Yadav dismissed Virat Kohli during the match versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
- His wicket was created by bowling one ball that moved away from Kohli, followed immediately by a sharply back-in effort that beat the batter.
- Lucknow Super Giants went on to defend 213, putting RCB under pressure after the Kohli breakthrough.
- Prince said Kohli had advised him in the reverse fixture to stick to the right length when the pitch offered movement.
- The win ended LSG’s six-match losing streak and became their third victory in 10 games of the season.
- Prince has 16 wickets in 10 matches for Lucknow this season, and he acknowledged the team’s tough run of results.
How Prince Yadav broke the key batter
The breakthrough was not a random miscue—it was a planned sequence executed with precision. Prince began by pitching a delivery that shaped away from Kohli, forcing the RCB batter to play cautiously and respect the movement. Then, on the very next ball, he changed the angle of pressure by bringing the ball back into the batter sharply, leaving Kohli completely out of position.
Kohli’s reaction said it all. After he lost his wicket, he looked stunned, lingered at the crease in disbelief for a few moments, and then walked back. For Lucknow, the dismissal proved to be a major turning point as they narrowed the margin for RCB to chase and held their nerve through the defence of 213.
Prince explains the strategy behind the dismissal
After the match, Prince was asked whether dismissing Kohli had been part of a specific game plan—particularly around targeting that length and channel. He revealed that the idea came directly from Kohli himself.
Prince stated that during the reverse fixture, Virat had told him to keep attacking the right length whenever the ball was moving off that area of the pitch. He described speaking with Virat after the previous game, noting that they discussed the approach at length, with Kohli emphasising that as long as the ball was deviating from the length, the bowler should not abandon it. Prince said he followed that exact instruction, and the wicket eventually came as a result.
Lucknow keeps its playoff hopes alive
Beyond Prince’s personal highlight, the result carried significant weight for Lucknow Super Giants’ season. The win helped keep their IPL 2026 campaign alive and provided a timely lift for Rishabh Pant’s side following a difficult stretch.
It was a hard-fought triumph that snapped a run of six straight defeats. In addition, it represented only Lucknow’s third win from their first 10 matches this season. While their playoff qualification still depends on results elsewhere, the team remains mathematically in the hunt for a top-four finish.
Prince’s season so far—and the mindset moving forward
Prince has been one of the most consistent bright spots for Lucknow Super Giants, taking 16 wickets across 10 matches. Despite his own form, he acknowledged that the campaign has been challenging from a team perspective, especially after the prolonged losing streak.
He said that if he reflects on his personal performance, the season has been positive. However, he stressed that for the team it has been tough, pointing to the six-match losing run. Prince added that the effort will continue in the remaining fixtures, with the squad determined to put in a strong showing as the tournament progresses.
