Mangesh Yadav Sets the Record Straight on Virat Kohli Dismissal Rumors
Clarifying the Rumors and Practice Match Insights
Mangesh Yadav, a pacer for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has dismissed claims that he took the wicket of star batsman Virat Kohli during a practice match ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Currently playing for the Gwalior Cheetahs in the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20 Scindia Cup 2026, Mangesh clarified that he actually dismissed Phil Salt on his very first delivery. He noted that Kohli managed to score 15 runs off one of his overs, after which they engaged in a friendly conversation.
Details on the Practice Match
In an interview, Mangesh stated, "No, that's probably fake news. I didn't get him (Virat Kohli) out. I got Phil Salt out on the first ball. Virat bhaiya actually hit me for 15 runs in an over, after which we had a good chat. It was good, but getting Phil Salt out on the first ball was a great moment." Mangesh was acquired by RCB for ₹5.20 crore during the IPL auction, following a competitive bidding war with Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Learning from Senior Players at RCB
The 23-year-old pacer shared valuable insights gained from his interactions with senior players like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Jacob Duffy during the IPL 2026 season. He emphasized the knowledge he acquired, particularly from Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood regarding bowling lengths. Mangesh praised Bhuvneshwar's ability to quickly read pitch conditions and adapt his bowling strategy. He remarked, "There are so many learnings. I chatted a lot with Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar) bhaiya and Josh Hazlewood about how to bowl good lengths. I asked Bhuvi bhaiya how to swing the ball continuously and assist in the game."
Mangesh also expressed admiration for Duffy's swing bowling and mentioned their friendly rapport during the IPL season. He noted, "Jacob Duffy has a great swing and is a very good friend; we had a lot of fun. I have a slightly better bond with Duffy, but they are all great guys."
Additionally, Mangesh shared his strategy for maintaining focus even after conceding runs during matches. He explained, "It's simple, stick to your plan. If you execute well, like a yorker, and still get hit for a boundary, there's not much you can do because of fancy shots like scoops or glances. At RCB, I learned to focus on execution. You can't control everything; sometimes a batter plays a great shot, other times they get out on a bad ball. The best thing is to stay focused and trust your hard work."
Commending Captain Rajat Patidar
Rajat Patidar has made history as the third captain in IPL to win consecutive titles and the first to secure victories in his first two seasons. Under his leadership, RCB clinched the IPL titles in 2025 and 2026, ending a long wait for the trophy. Mangesh praised Patidar's calm and inspiring leadership style, stating, "I'm speechless because a franchise waits for years for a trophy, and then Rajat bhaiya came and showed great leadership. It's great how he captains and leads from the front."
Experience in the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL)
Mangesh, who represents Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket, has played three List A matches and two T20 games, taking three wickets in each format. Currently, he is part of the Gwalior Cheetahs in the MPL 2026 season, where he has claimed two wickets in three matches. He described the team environment as supportive and family-like, stating, "The team environment in Gwalior Cheetahs is quite good. It's a family-like atmosphere with great support."
Mangesh highlighted the importance of the MPL in providing young cricketers with a platform to showcase their skills. He remarked, "MPL has many talented players like Aniket Verma and Madhav Tiwari. We often felt there should be a stage for direct exposure. As players, we started working twice as hard when this league began because we felt we now had a stage to showcase ourselves." He concluded by emphasizing the league's significant role in his journey from obscurity to playing for RCB and winning titles.