There are few sights in T20 cricket as exhilarating as a fast bowler charging in and snapping out the stumps with one sharp delivery. Thursday, May 7, promises to stand out for Lucknow Super Giants’ pacer Prince Yadav, after he struck early to dismiss Virat Kohli on his second ball in the matchup. The dismissal was so sudden that even the former India captain looked visibly taken aback.
Quick facts
- Prince Yadav dismissed Virat Kohli on the second delivery he bowled to him.
- Kohli scored a duck after facing just two balls.
- It was Kohli’s first IPL zero since 2023.
- It was also Kohli’s first duck in a chase in IPL in nine years, last occurring in 2017 vs KKR.
- LSG beat RCB by 9 runs under the DLS method at Ekana on Thursday, May 7.
- LSG posted 209/—, with Mitchell Marsh’s century forming the platform.
- Rain reduced RCB’s chase to 19 overs, with the revised target set at 213.
- Rajat Patidar made a half-century for RCB, but Digvesh Rathi defended 20 in the final over for LSG.
Kohli, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) talisman, lasted only two balls before walking back to the dugout with no runs on the board. That duck also carried extra weight: it was his first score of zero in the IPL since 2023. More striking still, it marked his first duck while chasing in IPL action in nine years, the previous instance dating back to 2017 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)—a match remembered for RCB collapsing for just 49 at Eden Gardens.
Prince, Kohli and the Ekana moment
After the LSG vs RCB game wrapped up at Ekana on Thursday, Kohli was spotted having a brief, friendly exchange with Prince and Lucknow’s bowling coach Bharat Arun. The interaction looked relaxed and warm, with Kohli even placing a hand on the shoulders of the 24-year-old pacer—an apparent show of approval after a top-class delivery. On the field, though, the focus was on the breakthrough that set the tone.
Kohli’s wicket arrived in the second over of RCB’s chase, and it happened on the very next ball after Prince had already made an early statement. The over began with an outswinger that set the batter up, and then Prince followed it with pace clocked at 140.4 kph. That second ball was pitched to move the batter’s feet forward—until it seemed to find the right channel and uproot the off-stump, leaving Kohli momentarily stunned.
Prince reacted in the best way, jumping with delight as teammates swarmed him. The dismissal became a highlight not just for the result, but for the precision behind it—exactly the kind of ball that can change the complexion of a chase in an instant.
Kohli’s “blueprint” and the line Prince followed
What made the wicket even more intriguing was the suggestion that Kohli had already outlined a plan for Prince. After a previous match at the Chinnaswamy, Prince said Kohli had told him where to focus while bowling. At Ekana, Prince claimed he executed that advice with intent—turning the “blueprint” into a breakthrough at the earliest opportunity.
In his explanation to the broadcaster, Yadav said that during their conversation, Virat had advised him to stick to a length as long as the ball was moving around off that mark. When put into action against RCB, that counsel appeared to pay off immediately—especially with the kind of movement Prince produced to get Kohli out.
Turning to the match itself, LSG came out on top by 9 runs using the DLS method. Rishabh Pant led the charge for Lucknow as they batted first and put 209 runs on the board, helped significantly by Mitchell Marsh’s century. However, rain forced a reduction, cutting the contest to 19 overs per side and adjusting RCB’s chase target to 213.
RCB did get contributions, with captain Rajat Patidar striking a half-century to keep the chase moving. Still, the innings never fully tilted in their favour, and Lucknow held firm when it mattered most. Digvesh Rathi sealed the outcome by defending 20 runs in the final over, ensuring LSG finished with the DLS win over Bengaluru.
