Nehal Wadhera shares Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh's reaction to match-winning knock vs RCB

NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings (PBKS) batter Nehal Wadhera recently helped his side pull off a five-wicket win against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), smashing an unbeaten 33 off 19 balls. Wadhera's knock, comprising three fours and the same number of sixes, played a crucial role in the Punjab-based franchise pulling off a win in a tense scenario.
PBKS chased down a target of 96 in 12.1 overs after RCB posted 95/9 in a rain-affected match, reduced to 14 overs a side. The 24-year-old cricketer's knock drew praise from legendary Indian cricketers like Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh, who praised his growth as a cricketer.
"Virat bhai told me he liked the way I batted, especially the composure and thought process behind the shots. He further praised my decision to attack the bowlers because low-scoring matches are always challenging. I discussed my preparations with Virat bhai who further shared his experiences with me. His compliments made me feel really happy," said Wadhera.
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"Virat bhai himself called me and initiated the conversation which left me really shocked as I didn't expect him to remember my name. Realising that he knows my name was the actual ice-breaker as I felt comfortable enough to walk up to him and indulge in a conversation," he added.
The PBKS batter further shared that he received a 'special' phone call from former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh following the knock.
"Yuvraj sir congratulated me for which I am extremely grateful to him. He encouraged me and guided me on how I can play for India. We further discussed regarding how I can improve my game even further and go one step ahead. Those were golden words for me. I have huge respect for Yuvraj sir," said Wadhera.

Discussing his knock, the PBKS batter stated that he identified the tough situation as a very good opportunity to prove himself as a cricketer.
"I love playing under tough situations. Only those players who can pull off a win in tough situations play for India. Before I went out to bat, our coach came to me and said, 'You can go easy'. But as soon as I walked out, I felt that RCB had put us under a lot of pressure. I wanted to put them under the same amount of pressure by attempting to take on the bowlers," shared Wadhera.

The PBKS batter highlighted the role played by PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting in helping him bounce back following a lean run in domestic cricket.
"Ricky sir gave us a decent number of tips during the camps conducted in Dharamshala where he would also boost our confidence. That form of preparation proved extremely crucial in nature. I have also worked on my weaknesses in the last two years, particularly one or two shots, resulting in greater success," he stated.