Punjab Kings spinner Vishal Nishad said he will touch Virat Kohli’s feet if he gets his idol out during IPL 2026. The 20-year-old leg-spinner from Gorakhpur spoke to the media at the PBKS pre-season camp in Udaipur this week. Kohli remains his biggest inspiration in cricket.
Nishad told reporters that Kohli’s attitude and drive shaped how he thinks about the game. The young spinner added that taking Kohli’s wicket would be the biggest moment of his career. In Indian tradition, touching someone’s feet shows deep respect. Nishad plans to do exactly that if he dismisses the Royal Challengers Bengaluru star.
From Tennis Ball to IPL
Nishad started playing cricket with a tennis ball in his hometown. He played alongside his father and brothers in local games. A friend noticed his bowling action one day and told him to switch to leather-ball cricket. That conversation changed everything.
He joined a cricket academy, but money became an issue quickly. His dad was a painter and had a hard time paying for school. The coach saw something in Nishad and trained him for free for three years. That support kept his cricket dream alive when finances could have ended it.
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Family Wanted Him to Quit
Tough times at home made Nishad think about quitting cricket. His mother told him to stop because the family needed stability. He helped his father with painting work during those months. The uncertainty of a cricket career seemed too risky.
Nishad promised his family he would make it work. He kept practicing whenever he could between helping at home. His mother eventually supported him after seeing how serious he was about cricket. The family fully backed him once they understood his commitment.
Auction Journey to Punjab Kings
Nishad played two seasons in the UPT20 League in Uttar Pradesh. His consistent performances caught attention, but he had zero senior domestic cricket experience. Punjab Kings put him in the IPL 2026 mini auction at a base price of 30 lakh rupees.
He went unsold in the first round. PBKS picked him up later in the auction at his base price. The franchise saw something in his bowling that other teams missed. His tennis-ball background gives him natural spin that translates well to T20 cricket, an important factor given the PBKS squad planning ahead of the new season.
Nishad is one of the few players who have gone straight from local T20 leagues to the IPL without playing in the Ranji Trophy or other senior domestic tournaments. His story shows how IPL teams now look for players in smaller competitions all over India.
Facing His Idol Soon
PBKS will play RCB twice during IPL 2026. Nishad will likely get his chance to bowl at Kohli in at least one of those matches. Kohli has dominated IPL bowling attacks for years with consistent batting performances that have made him one of the league’s biggest stars.
The young spinner knows getting Kohli out will not be easy. RCB won IPL 2025 with Kohli playing a key role throughout the tournament. PBKS signed Nishad, hoping his leg-spin can trouble top batsmen in the middle overs.
Nishad said in interviews that he watches Kohli’s batting videos to learn how top players think. He studies Kohli’s footwork and shot selection. That same player now stands between him and his first major IPL wicket.
The pre-season camp in Udaipur has Nishad working with PBKS coaches on his variations. He needs to develop his googly and flipper to succeed at this level. The franchise invested in him based on raw talent but knows he needs refinement.
IPL 2026 starts in March. Nishad will walk onto the field as one of the youngest players in the tournament. His tennis-ball past, family struggles, and free coaching all led to this moment. Now he waits to see if his dream of bowling to Kohli comes true.
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