Kohli's Rare Duck Seals Nine-Run Victory for Lucknow

Key facts

• Virat Kohli dismissed for a duck on May 8.
• Lucknow Super Giants defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru by nine runs.
• Mitchell Marsh scored 111 off 56 balls for LSG.
• Prince Yadav took three wickets for 33 runs.
• Kohli's duck was his 11th in 269 IPL innings.
• The last time Kohli was out for a duck was 3,301 days prior.
• LSG posted 209/3 in 19 overs.
• The match took place at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

Kohli's Uncharacteristic Dismissal Stuns Ekana Stadium

Virat Kohli's early departure for a duck left the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow in stunned silence on Thursday night. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru star was dismissed for zero by Lucknow Super Giants' Prince Yadav, marking a rare and unexpected moment in the Indian Premier League clash. This dismissal was particularly noteworthy, representing Kohli's first IPL duck in 1,110 days, a stark contrast to his usual dominance. The match, reduced to 19 overs per side following a rain interruption, saw LSG post a formidable 209/3, setting RCB a challenging target. The extraordinary score was largely built on a spectacular century by Mitchell Marsh, who single-handedly dismantled the RCB bowling attack. Marsh's blistering 111 off just 56 deliveries, featuring nine fours and nine sixes, was the cornerstone of LSG's imposing total. His innings not only secured the fastest century by an LSG batter but also set the stage for a crucial victory that ended the franchise's six-match losing streak.

Marsh's Majestic Century Powers LSG's Total

Mitchell Marsh was the undisputed architect of Lucknow Super Giants' commanding total. Opening the innings alongside Arshin Kulkarni, Marsh unleashed an aggressive assault from the outset. After a brief period of measured play against tight RCB bowling, he dramatically shifted gears. Marsh's onslaught began in earnest against Krunal Pandya, yielding 12 runs in the fourth over, followed by a 17-run over against Rasikh Salam Dar. He continued his relentless attack, hammering Josh Hazlewood for another 12 runs to propel LSG to a dominant 68 without loss by the end of the Powerplay. He reached his half-century in a mere 20 deliveries, the quickest of his IPL career, and only second to Abhishek Sharma's 18-ball fifty in Lucknow. While Kulkarni eventually fell for 17 off 24 balls, Marsh continued his charge, adding a vital 70-run partnership with Nicholas Pooran before being dismissed for 111. Rishabh Pant’s late flurry of 32 off 10 balls ensured LSG crossed the 200-run mark.

Prince Yadav Achieves Rare Feat Against Kohli

The historic moment arrived early in the RCB chase when Prince Yadav etched his name in the IPL record books by dismissing Virat Kohli for a golden duck. This marked only the 11th time in Kohli's illustrious 269-innings IPL career that he has been out for zero, a statistic that underscores the rarity of the event. It was also only the sixth instance of Kohli being dismissed for a duck in the second innings of a match. The last time Kohli suffered this fate was 3,301 days prior, on April 23, 2017, against the Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, when he was dismissed by Nathan Coulter-Nile. That match is infamously remembered for RCB's record-low total of 49 all out. Prince Yadav's achievement is further amplified by the fact that he is only the second bowler in IPL history to dismiss Kohli with a bowled dismissal for a duck, following Dhawal Kulkarni in 2016. Yadav went on to have a stellar outing, breaking a crucial partnership and finishing with figures of 3-33 in his four overs, proving instrumental in LSG's victory.

LSG Clinch Nine-Run Victory

Despite a valiant effort from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, they ultimately fell short, losing the match by nine runs. The target of 213, adjusted via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method after the rain delay, proved too steep for the visitors. Prince Yadav continued his impact beyond Kohli's wicket, breaking a 95-run partnership between Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar by dismissing the former. He also accounted for Jitesh Sharma, who scored just one run, in the same over. These crucial breakthroughs stifled RCB's chase and contributed significantly to LSG's ability to defend their total. The victory was a significant one for the Rishabh Pant-led Lucknow Super Giants, snapping a demoralizing six-match losing streak and providing a much-needed boost to their campaign.

Advice from the Dismissed Fuels Yadav's Success

In a remarkable turn of events, Prince Yadav revealed that advice from Virat Kohli himself, given after their previous encounter, played a role in his historic dismissal. Speaking to the broadcaster after the match, Yadav shared the insight he received from the RCB star. "After the last match I was talking to Virat bhaiya and he only told me - as long as it's moving around off a length, stick to that length (talking about the Kohli wicket)," Yadav recounted. This piece of advice, intended to help Kohli navigate tricky conditions, ironically became the key to his downfall. The young pacer's performance, coupled with Marsh's century, underscored a night where individual brilliance and strategic execution led to a pivotal win for LSG.

The bottom line

• Virat Kohli was dismissed for a rare IPL duck on May 8, ending a 1,110-day streak without such an occurrence.
• Prince Yadav achieved a historic wicket, being only the second bowler to dismiss Kohli bowled for a duck in the IPL.
• Mitchell Marsh's 111 off 56 balls was crucial in LSG posting 209/3 in 19 overs.
• Lucknow Super Giants secured a nine-run victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru, ending a six-match losing streak.
• Prince Yadav's bowling figures were 3-33 in four overs, including key breakthroughs.
• Kohli himself had advised Yadav on bowling strategy after their previous match.