LSG Edge RCB by Nine Runs as Prince Yadav Dismisses Kohli in Crucial IPL Clash

Lucknow Super Giants defeated defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru by nine runs in a high-scoring IPL 2026 encounter at Ekana Stadium on Thursday, with Prince Yadav's early dismissal of Virat Kohli proving decisive. LSG posted 209/3 in 19 overs, led by Mitchell Marsh's 111 off 56 balls, supported by Nicholas Pooran and Rishabh Pant.

Yadav removed Kohli cheaply during RCB's chase, triggering a critical stumble in their batting momentum. Speaking on JioHotstar, former New Zealand pacer Mitchell McClenaghan called the delivery 'divine,' noting it swung in off the seam without overt seam movement, beating Kohli perfectly. He also credited Yadav's pace and accuracy in executing the short-ball plan, particularly in dismissing in-form batter Devdutt Padikkal.

Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara endorsed Yadav's growing impact, highlighting his consistency across match phases and minimal conceding under pressure. Pujara stated Yadav's World Cup aspirations are backed by tangible skill and improvement from the previous season.

LSG's bowling unit, anchored by Yadav's two-wicket spell, restricted RCB despite strong resistance. The IPL 2026 season continues with the next fixtures scheduled for the coming week.