Punjab Kings’ young spinner Vishal Nishad has made an interesting statement ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season. The 20-year-old mystery spinner says Virat Kohli is his idol, but when he faces him on the field, he will try his best to dismiss the star batter.
Nishad recently joined Punjab Kings in the IPL auction and is preparing for his first season in the league. While he admires Kohli greatly, he believes cricket on the field is about competition.
Vishal Nishad Admires Kohli but Wants His Wicket
Vishal Nishad has openly said that Virat Kohli is his role model. However, he made it clear that once the match starts, he will focus only on getting the best players out.
He said he has not met Kohli yet but hopes to speak with him and learn from him when they meet during the IPL season.
According to Nishad, off the field he respects Kohli and wants to learn from his experience. But on the field, he will try everything possible to dismiss him.
He also revealed that Punjab Kings will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru twice during the season, which gives him two chances to bowl against his idol.
Jersey Number 18 Was Already Taken
Nishad wanted to wear jersey number 18 in the IPL, the same number that Virat Kohli wears.
However, that number had already been taken by Punjab Kings opening batter Priyansh Arya. Because of this, Nishad had to choose a different jersey number for the season.
From Village Struggles to the IPL
Vishal Nishad’s journey to the IPL has not been easy. He comes from a small village called Madraha near Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.
His father works as a professional painter, and the family faced financial challenges. During difficult times, Nishad even helped his father with painting work.
There were moments when he thought about giving up cricket because of the struggles.
His mother also told him that cricket is a very tough career because so many people are trying to succeed in the sport. But Nishad stayed confident and promised that he would continue chasing his dream.
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Vishal Nishad Background
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Vishal Nishad |
| Age | 20 |
| Role | Mystery Spinner |
| IPL Team | Punjab Kings |
| Hometown | Madraha village near Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh |
| Inspiration | Virat Kohli |
Breakthrough Moment in Uttar Pradesh T20 League
Nishad first caught attention while playing for Gorakhpur Lions in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League.
Former Uttar Pradesh captain Ankit Rajpoot noticed his talent and later became head coach of the Gorakhpur Lions. Rajpoot also worked as a talent scout for Punjab Kings.
The real turning point in Nishad’s career came during an IPL trial in Noida.
At that time, he did not even have proper cricket shoes. He borrowed a pair from a friend before the trial. Despite the challenge, he performed brilliantly and took three wickets during the session.
That performance helped him gain recognition and showed that he had the ability to compete at a higher level.
Learning From Varun Chakravarthy
Nishad also revealed that he has learned a lot by watching mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
He said he picked up the carrom ball by studying Varun’s bowling style. Nishad also studies his googly and other variations to improve his own game.
These skills could make him an important spinner for Punjab Kings in the upcoming season.
PBKS IPL 2026 Opening Match
Punjab Kings will begin their IPL 2026 campaign on March 31. The team will face Gujarat Titans in their opening match at New Chandigarh.
PBKS Opening Match Details
| Match | PBKS vs GT |
|---|---|
| Tournament | IPL 2026 |
| Date | March 31, 2026 |
| Venue | New Chandigarh |
| PBKS Captain | Shreyas Iyer |
| GT Captain | Shubman Gill |
Punjab Kings will not face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the early phase of the tournament. That means fans may have to wait a bit longer to see the much-talked-about Nishad vs Kohli battle.
Vishal Nishad’s journey from a small village to the IPL shows his determination and passion for cricket. Even though Kohli is his idol, he wants to challenge himself against the best players in the world.
For Nishad, bowling to Kohli will be both a dream moment and a big test in his young career.
If he manages to dismiss his idol in IPL 2026, it could become one of the most memorable moments of his cricket journey.
