Prince Yadav turned a simple bowling moment into one of the defining talking points of IPL 2026, dismissing Virat Kohli with a ball that looked special from the first release. The wicket has stayed in the spotlight even a week later, largely because it came with the kind of pace-and-precision impact that changes a contest in an instant. While the delivery itself beat Kohli’s method and crashed through his defence, the background to it is what made the moment linger.
After the match, Prince explained that Kohli had actually advised him during a conversation earlier in the season, pointing him toward a specific length and area to keep targeting. The detail immediately sparked debate online and among cricket watchers, with many suggesting Kohli’s advice had, unintentionally, helped pave the way for his own dismissal. For a young fast bowler to back that information against one of the sport’s biggest names only added to the intrigue.
Quick facts
- Prince Yadav’s wicket of Virat Kohli in IPL 2026 has remained a major talking point for over a week.
- Prince said Kohli had given him bowling guidance earlier in the season about a particular area to attack.
- Kohli later addressed the chatter and explained how his relationship with Prince developed during the season.
- Kohli said they first met in the Vijay Hazare Trophy before growing closer through conversations alongside Ishant Sharma.
- Kohli also outlined why he shares experience with younger players, stressing it helps maintain standards for Indian cricket.
Kohli has now stepped into the conversation, clarifying what he said to Prince and why the guidance mattered. In describing their bond, he painted Prince as someone who can seem intense on the field at first, but who is much easier to connect with off it. Kohli added that their friendship deepened through time spent talking, rather than only through match-day interactions.
From Vijay Hazare to IPL bond
The former India captain recalled that he did not initially know Prince well when they first crossed paths. He explained that his early impressions were shaped by Prince’s on-field intensity, before he discovered a different side—warm, humorous, and surprisingly approachable. Kohli also pointed to Ishant Sharma’s presence as a catalyst, saying Ishant knew Prince and helped their conversations begin naturally.
“So people don’t know, I went and played Vijay Hazare, I didn’t know Prince at all. Because on the field he feels like he’s very intense, and he’s such a sweet guy, and he’s so funny, because Ishant was there as well, and Ishant knows him, so I got very close to him, and he opened up really nicely to me,” Kohli said on a podcast hosted on RCB’s YouTube channel.
From there, Kohli described how the guidance he offered became part of a wider mentoring rhythm during domestic matches. He said he spoke to Prince about match situations and bowling plans—discussing what to do from specific points on the ground, including mid-off and the cover region, and discussing where the bowler should aim. In Kohli’s view, experience sharing is not optional; it is a responsibility that should be passed forward.
He explained that players will not be around forever, and that giving younger cricketers a clear understanding of decision-making and execution can genuinely accelerate improvement. Kohli also linked that growth to the broader health of Indian cricket, suggesting that when domestic talents develop and perform consistently, it ultimately strengthens the national pool.
“So I was telling him even on those times, you know, even through those Vijay Hazare games, standing at mid-off, covers, whatever, what to do, where to bowl. You have to share experience, you’re not going to be here forever and if people have the opportunity to learn and get better in their careers, eventually, who gets helped? If all these guys play well, eventually they play for India, the standard of cricket remains high,” he added.
Kohli then underlined the bigger message behind his mentoring—preventing any slide in standards over time. He argued that nurturing a player toward their best version is the best way to ensure that improvement flows into the next phase of Indian cricket, rather than fading away after isolated breakthroughs.
“You don’t want to see a situation tomorrow where the standards are dropping. If you can help someone to get to their potential best, then their best version will eventually help Indian cricket. That’s the progress, I see,” Kohli said.
