Virat Kohli has always been a fierce competitor on the field, but off it, he's proving to be a mentor in the making. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru legend recently opened up about how his own advice to Lucknow Super Giants pacer Prince Yadav led to his dismissal earlier this IPL season—and he wouldn't have it any other way.

During a tense match at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, Prince clean-bowled Kohli for a two-ball duck, sparking a nine-run victory for LSG. The delivery was a sharp, incoming ball from a good length that beat the bat completely. After the game, Prince revealed the secret behind that wicket: it came straight from Kohli's own playbook.

"After the last match, I was talking to him, and he told me that if the ball is doing something from a length, don't leave it. So, I did that, and got the result," Prince shared with broadcasters, giving credit where it was due.

Now, on the RCB Podcast, Kohli has confirmed the conversation, explaining his philosophy of helping younger players grow. "Yeah, he bowled a great ball to me, and I told him to bowl in those areas. It is fine," Kohli said with a shrug, showing no regrets.

The former RCB captain revealed that his bond with Prince began during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he first noticed the young pacer's potential. "I went and played Vijay Hazare. I didn't know Prince at all. He is such a sweet guy, and he is so funny. I got very close to him, and he opened up nicely to me," Kohli recalled.

"I was telling him, even through those Vijay Hazare games, what to do and where to bowl. You have to share experience. You are not going to be here forever. If people have the opportunity to learn and get better in their careers, eventually they play for India and the standard of cricket remains high," Kohli added, emphasizing the importance of passing on knowledge.

This isn't an isolated case for Kohli. He also revealed that he recently spoke to Mohammed Siraj before RCB's clash against Gujarat Titans. "Before playing Gujarat in Bengaluru, I spoke to Siraj on the boundary. I told him my observations—how I saw him run in and how it was different from before. He spoke to me about rhythm. And we are playing them two days later... I should be able to play his best version. I want him to be at his best," Kohli said, showing his commitment to elevating the game of those around him, even if it means facing their best deliveries.

For cricket fans and aspiring players, it's a powerful reminder that true greatness isn't just about personal milestones—it's about lifting the next generation, one piece of advice at a time.