Royal Challengers Bengaluru suffered a nine-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday, with the result decided via the DLS method.
How the DLS finish shaped the result
The match swung into Lucknow’s favour after key contributions with the ball, and once the innings situation changed, the revised target ensured RCB had to chase under pressure. In the end, RCB fell short by nine runs as per the DLS calculation.
Prince Yadav’s strike removes Virat Kohli
One of the decisive moments came when Virat Kohli was dismissed for a duck. Lucknow pacer Prince Yadav produced a 140.4 kmph inswinging delivery that moved through Kohli’s defensive line and struck the off stump.
After the ball hit the stumps, Kohli appeared visibly surprised, then stared toward the pitch area where the delivery had landed.
Manjrekar breaks down Kohli’s body language
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar later analysed Kohli’s reaction and drew a comparison with Sachin Tendulkar, suggesting the behaviour reflects how elite batters process setbacks in real time.
- Manjrekar said Kohli’s dismissal—being clean bowled by Prince Yadav—offered insight into the mindset of a champion batter.
- He noted that, in his view, the focus wasn’t merely on how Kohli got out, but on what Kohli did immediately after: looking down at the pitch as though something unexpected had occurred.
- Manjrekar compared this to Tendulkar’s end-of-career reaction, saying Tendulkar would also look at the pitch and believe the ball had “kept low,” as though the conditions had played a trick.
- He added that when a batter experiences a small setback, they may not instantly turn inward for answers or become self-critical; instead, they look for causes outside themselves.
Why top batters react differently
Manjrekar further argued that this sort of response is typical among top-order players, tying it to the strong belief they maintain in their own skills.
- He said this trait belongs to “a great batter,” stemming from years of success that keep self-confidence high.
- According to Manjrekar, when such a player gets a moment like this, their confidence does not drop quickly.
- He contrasted that with “lesser mortals,” who, in his view, see their confidence shatter when something goes wrong.
- He concluded that great batters instinctively search for another reason for their dismissal because their faith in their ability remains strong—one of the reasons they consistently deliver at the highest level.
