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This dismissal marked Virat Kohli’s first duck in the IPL after more than three years.
Lucknow Super Giants' Indian cricket player Prince Yadav (L) celebrates after taking the wicket of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Indian cricket player Virat Kohli (R) during the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 match between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.(AFP)In one of the most electrifying moments of IPL 2026, Lucknow Super Giants’ emerging fast bowler Prince Yadav scripted a sensational redemption story by dismissing Royal Challengers Bengaluru icon Virat Kohli for a duck. The incident happened during RCB’s challenging 213-run chase on Thursday (May 7), leaving fans stunned as the home team gained a crucial early breakthrough.
Prince Yadav's redemption story
The drama began in the very first over bowled by Mohammed Shami. Jacob Bethell steered a short-of-length delivery behind square on the off-side for a boundary. Prince Yadav, positioned at deep backward point, moved to his left but misfielded the ball, allowing it to race away to the fence. It was an embarrassing moment for the young Delhi pacer. However, Prince showed tremendous character on the very next legal delivery.
Bethell tried to swing a seam-up delivery on a length outside off at 136.4kph but only managed an outer edge. Prince, fielding at deep backward point, moved swiftly to his left and took a sharp catch, completing the dismissal cleanly. Jacob Bethell was out for 4 off 5 balls with one boundary.
This sharp catch not only removed RCB’s opening batsman but also boosted Prince Yadav’s confidence immensely. Just minutes later, when handed the ball in the second over, he delivered a delivery that will be talked about for the rest of the season.
Prince Yadav’s brilliant delivery ends Virat Kohli’s innings on second ball
Buoyed by his fielding effort, Prince Yadav came on to bowl the second over and delivered a sensational spell. After starting with an outswinger, he got the next ball to nip back in sharply at 140.4kph. Virat Kohli, who had opened the innings, was drawn forward into a defensive push. The ball seamed in beautifully, beat the bat, went through the gate, and uprooted the off-stump. Kohli was bowled for a 2-ball duck. Prince Yadav jumped in delight and punched the air as RCB lost both openers inside the first two overs.
Virat Kohli gets out on a duck in the IPL after 110 days
This dismissal marked Virat Kohli’s first duck in the IPL after more than three years. His previous zero came on April 23, 2023, against the Rajasthan Royals when Trent Boult dismissed him on the first ball of the match. The gap of 1,110 days underlined Kohli’s remarkable consistency in the tournament over recent seasons.
(More to follow)
About the Author
Aachal Maniyar
Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. <br><br> Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. <br><br> Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. <br><br> She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.
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