Virat Kohli has acknowledged that the advice he gave to Prince Yadav contributed to his own dismissal during an Indian Premier League 2026 match earlier this season. The Lucknow Super Giants pacer bowled Kohli for a two-ball duck in a nine-run victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The delivery, which came back sharply from a good length, beat Kohli's defense.
Prince Credits Kohli's Advice
After the match, Prince revealed that the wicket resulted from advice Kohli had given him during an earlier meeting between the two teams. "After the last match, I was talking to him, and he told me that if the ball is doing something from a length, don't leave it. So, I did that, and got the result," Prince told the broadcasters.
Kohli Confirms Conversation
Speaking on the RCB Podcast, Kohli confirmed the exchange and stressed the importance of senior players helping younger cricketers improve. "Yeah, he bowled a great ball to me, and I told him to bowl in those areas. It is fine," Kohli said. He added that he got to know Prince during the Vijay Hazare Trophy and often shared inputs with him.
Building Bonds Beyond Teams
"I went and played Vijay Hazare [Trophy]. I didn't know Prince at all. He is such a sweet guy, and he is so funny. I got very close to him, and he opened up very nicely to me. I was telling him, even through those Vijay Hazare Trophy games what to do and where to bowl. You have to share experience. You are not going to be here forever. If people have the opportunity to learn and get better in their careers, eventually they play for India and the standard of cricket remains high," Kohli explained.
Advice to Other Players
Kohli also revealed similar interactions with other players, including Mohammed Siraj before RCB's match against Gujarat Titans. "Before playing Gujarat [Titans] in Bengaluru, I spoke to Siraj on the boundary. I told him my observations—how I saw him run in and how it was different from before. He spoke to me about rhythm. And we are playing them two days later... I should be able to play his best version. I want him to be at his best so I can compete with him. I am ready for everyone's best version. If someone is struggling, it is an opportunity for me to help. That is how I look at it," Kohli said.
Bigger Picture: Indian Cricket
The former India captain emphasized that helping players from rival IPL teams serves the larger goal of Indian cricket. Referring to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kohli said: "You look at my situation. If Yashasvi Jaiswal reaches out to me before we have to play Rajasthan Royals, right? He's probably looked up to me for a long period of time. Now I'm thinking, 'He needs help'. Even though he's going to play against us, it's one game. But if he plays well for the whole season, eventually he's going to play for India. So how can I not help him? He might score against us tomorrow or the day after. It's okay."
"Despite Jaiswal scoring, we should find a way to win. Whatever it is, he might or might not. I'm not saying he would. There's a possibility he might. So, I naturally can't go into a space where I say, 'He needs the help. Do it now.' He's going to practice two hours later. He's probably called me on the way to the game once. So, I'm thinking it'll help him in a way it can improve his game. He can score some runs, he can have a great season, it can open up things for him," Kohli added.
Stay updated with the latest IPL Live Score, IPL news on Times of India. Follow the IPL Schedule, check the IPL Points Table, and track the race for the IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple Cap.
