Virat Kohli endured an unusual off-day in the Indian Premier League 2026 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s star was dismissed for a pair of balls by a fast-rising pacer, Prince Yadav, during a tense matchup against Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow on Thursday. In a rain-affected chase reduced to 19 overs per side, RCB were left reeling while chasing a target of 210, and the pressure intensified almost immediately.
Lucknow struck early when Mohammed Shami dismissed opener Jacob Bethell for only four runs in the opening over. With the chase already wobbling, Prince Yadav delivered the breakthrough that swung the game further in LSG’s favour, removing Kohli within the first two overs and plunging RCB deeper into trouble. The young pacer began with an outswinger, then followed it with a sharp nip-backer clocked at 140.4 kmph, a delivery that beat Kohli’s forward defence.
Kohli went to block in an attempt to weather the spell, but the ball angled back through the line and hit the stumps. Prince Yadav immediately leapt into celebration, pumping his fist after taking one of the biggest wickets in world cricket and sparking major momentum for the home side. That early double blow gave LSG the ideal platform in a must-win encounter, with their playoff chances hanging by a thread heading into the contest.
Earlier on the same evening, Mitchell Marsh delivered a stunning innings of 111 off just 56 balls to lift Lucknow Super Giants to 209 for 3, even as the proceedings were disrupted by three separate rain interruptions. Marsh launched a relentless assault on the RCB bowling, striking nine fours and nine sixes. He added 95 runs with Arshin Kulkarni before combining for another 70-run partnership with Nicholas Pooran.
Rishabh Pant then provided the late acceleration for LSG, striking an unbeaten 32 off only 10 deliveries to ensure Lucknow finished strongly and set a formidable target for RCB to chase in the shortened match.
