Lucknow Super Giants seamer Prince Yadav probably bowled the best ball of the season when he castled Virat Kohli for a two-ball duck in an IPL match on Thursday. But Prince said LSG’s thrilling nine-run win over defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru gave him more joy than the prized scalp of Kohli.
Price first conceded a boundary off a misfield and then took a brilliant catch the next ball at deep backward point to dismiss Jacob Bethell of Mohammed Shami’s bowling. Prince sharing the new ball with Shami, started with an outswinger to Kohli, which he defended. The next ball he nips it back while Kohli is drawn to a forward push and the ball goes through the gate to knock off the off-stump.
“I felt good after the wicket, but my greatest joy is that we won the match. If I had taken the wicket and we had lost, it wouldn’t have been that significant, but the best thing for me is that my team won. Winning the match for the team was more important to me,” Prince said during the post-match press conference.
The right-arm pacer said his interactions with LSG bowling coach Bharat Arun and veteran India pacer Shami, have been really positive and helpful.
“I have continuous conversations with him; in fact, Mohammed Shami is also there. So everything is going well, we’re having good, positive discussions, and focusing only on how and what to deliver,” Prince said.
Prince further credited Shami for helping him understand the nuances of bowling with the new ball.
“I learned a lot from him about the new ball as well, but what I like most is that whenever a bowler is bowling, he stands at mid-on or mid-off. Having such an experienced player standing with you gives you a completely different level of confidence. Having the experience of Mohammed Shami gives you confidence,” Prince also said.
Mitchell Marsh played a brilliant knock of 111 runs off just 56 balls, smashing nine fours and nine sixes, to help LSG post 209 for 3 in 19 overs in a rain-affected match.
RCB fought back strongly after losing two early wickets, thanks to a 95-run partnership between Devdutt Padikkal, who scored 34 off 25 balls and captain Rajat Patidar, who made a quick 61 off 31 balls with six sixes.
Late cameos from Tim David (40 off 17), Krunal Pandya (28 not out off 16) and Romario Shepherd (23 not out off 15) kept RCB in the chase, but the defending champions eventually lost by nine runs.
The win was LSG’s third of the season, though they still remain at the bottom of the points table with seven defeats. RCB, meanwhile, slipped to third place after suffering their fourth loss of the tournament.
