Punjab Kings Star Left Surprised After Virat Kohli “Remembered His Name”, Shares Emotional Meeting

It was a surreal feeling for Nehal Wadhera when he discovered that Virat Kohli knew him by his first name. And then the proverbial icebreaker was a short interaction where the young man from Punjab obtained direct comments on his game of legend who made his day. Wadhera, which broke a 33 winning 33 steps against the RCB in the five -counters of Punjab Kings, said that he was amazed when Kohli recognized him before the match.

“I was really really shocked when before the match, Virat Bhai set out and spoke to Shreyas Iyer, and asked in Punjabi ‘Ki Haal Chaal, Nehal’ (how are you Nehal?)” Recall Wadhera his “Red Letter Day” with greater affection.

“I didn’t really expect him to remember my name. It really made me happy.” This moment, Wadhera said, opened the door for a quick conversation that he had long waited.

“Until last year, I said to a player – either it was Tilak (Varma) or Surya Bhai (Suryakumar Yadav) – that I wanted to speak to Virat Bhai once,” said the former Mumbai Indian striker.

“It was the real icebreaker where I learned that yes, Virat Bhai knows my name, and I could go up to him and have a conversation.” After the game, Wadhera seized the moment to seek Kohli’s comments because he was later seen to take a photo “As soon as the match finished, I went to him and asked:” Virat Bhai, you saw me in the last two years and this year – what do you think? “” Kohli – in particular for the selection of Wadhera shooting, calculation and respect for correspondence – left an impressive impression.

“It was really good to talk to him and I really enjoyed it,” added the 24 -year -old. “His words reinforced my belief and helped me better understand the game.” After his winning shot against RCB, Wadhera received a special phone call from Yuvraj Singh. “His words were like golden words for me,” he said. “He gave me advice,” told me how I could go ahead. I have enormous respect for him. ” The growth of Wadhera of Floater of the Indians of Mumbai to a key anchor of the average order for the kings of Punjab reflected its transformation.

He also remembers having faced Jofra Archer in his first season with the Mumbai Indians in 2023 who proved to be transformers.

“When I hit Archer, it was the real moment when I had this self-confidence,” he said.

“As they say, it’s not about being good, it’s about knowing that you are good.” Wadhera also played a 43 not in their victory against Lucknow’s Super Giants earlier this season, Wadhera was coherent for PBKS this season with an average of 37.80.

“Yeah, first of all, I would like to say that I like to play in difficult situations. I think that which can win in difficult situations can play for India.” “Against RCB, I think that before the striker, the coach (Ricky Ponting) came to see me and he told me that Nehal, we just need to run a ball. You can just go slowly. I said, okay, coach.

“But as soon as I entered inside, I felt that RCB had put a lot of pressure on us at that time and now it’s my time to give them this pressure.” Wadhera thinks that the leadership of Shreyas Iyer has brought a positive change in the franchise, praising the tactical state of mind of the skipper and the inclusive atmosphere which he helped to create alongside the Ponting coach.

Wadhera, who is in his first season with PBKS, said he felt at ease as soon as he entered, thanks to the approach of the leadership group.

“When I came to the kings of Punjab, I never felt like a new guy joining the team,” said Wadhera. “It looked like a family from the first day. This kind of environment gives a player confidence and freedom to express themselves. ” “Shreyas Iyer is definitely a very good captain … We all know how he can win matches with the bat, but the way he puts the field, rotates the quieurs – it shows that he still thinks of the team, not only of himself.” The young left -hander also highlighted Iyer’s camaraderie with Ponting, saying that their previous passage in the capitals of Delhi benefits PBKS this season.

“The combination with which it is formed with Ponting works very well,” said Wadhera. “They already had this DC link, and now they are extending this to newcomers like me.” Iyer, who directed Kolkata Knight Riders in title IPL in 2024 but was not kept this season, will direct the kings of Punjab against his former franchise in a highly awaited confrontation here on Saturday.

“But the way he changes the ball inside, changes the field, it shows that he is very involved and always thinks for the team. He is still, you know, a team man. He always thinks for the team rather than for his own performance.” Pti Tap Khs Khs

(With the exception of the title, this story has not been published by NDTV staff and is published from a unionized flow.)