Punjab Kings Star Yash Thakur Reveals Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni’s Advice During Tough IPL Days
Yash Thakur has opened up about one of the most difficult phases of his IPL career and revealed how advice from Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni helped him handle frustration, pressure and limited playing opportunities. The Punjab Kings pacer, who recently made his India debut on the Zimbabwe tour, said Kohli encouraged him to focus on preparation rather than worrying about the future, while Dhoni taught him how to settle his nerves in front of large crowds.
For Thakur, the advice came at a time when his IPL career appeared to have stalled. After making a name for himself with Lucknow Super Giants, he found opportunities harder to come by after moving to Punjab Kings. Instead of allowing that period to affect his confidence, he used the experience to strengthen his preparation.
Yash Thakur’s Difficult Phase at Punjab Kings
Thakur joined Punjab Kings after spending the 2023 and 2024 IPL seasons with Lucknow Super Giants. During those two seasons, he played 19 matches and took 24 wickets.
His move to Punjab, however, brought a very different experience. Competition for places in the pace attack was intense, with players such as Arshdeep Singh, Marco Jansen and Xavier Bartlett also competing for spots. As a result, Thakur featured only three times for Punjab during the period discussed in the report.
For a fast bowler trying to establish himself, spending long periods on the sidelines can be mentally challenging.
Thakur admitted that he became frustrated because he was not getting regular opportunities. That was when he spoke to Virat Kohli.
Virat Kohli’s Advice: Stop Worrying About the Future
Kohli's message to Thakur was not about changing his bowling action or adding another variation.
It was about preparation.
According to Thakur, he told Kohli that he was frustrated because he was not getting regular chances to play. Kohli advised him not to spend too much time thinking about what might happen in the future.
Instead, Thakur was encouraged to appreciate the opportunities he had already received and improve his preparation every day.
The key idea was simple: when the opportunity eventually arrives, the player should not feel unprepared.
That advice appears particularly relevant to a player competing in a tournament as unpredictable as the IPL. A fast bowler can spend several matches on the bench and then suddenly be asked to bowl a crucial spell because of an injury, tactical change or changing conditions.
Being ready at that moment can determine whether a player keeps his place.
For Thakur, Kohli's advice encouraged him to shift his attention from selection to preparation.
MS Dhoni Helped Thakur Deal With Pressure
Thakur's conversation with MS Dhoni addressed a different problem: nerves.
Playing in front of packed IPL crowds was a new experience for the fast bowler, and he admitted to feeling nervous and under pressure.
Dhoni's response was characteristically practical.
Thakur recalled that Dhoni told him such feelings would not simply disappear. Even when playing for India, he could experience similar pressure. Instead of overthinking the situation, Dhoni advised him to allow things to settle and give himself time to relax.
That became a method Thakur continues to use.
When pressure builds, he takes some time to settle himself rather than immediately trying to fight the feeling.
For a fast bowler, that mental reset can be valuable. A poor delivery can quickly increase pressure, but the next ball still has to be bowled with a clear mind.
His IPL Breakthrough Had Already Shown His Potential
Thakur was not an unknown quantity when he reached Punjab Kings.
His first major IPL opportunity came with Lucknow Super Giants after an impressive domestic season. LSG bought him for ₹45 lakh at the 2023 auction, following a 2022-23 campaign in which he produced strong numbers in both the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Ranji Trophy.
He finished his first IPL season with 13 wickets.
Then came one of the most memorable performances of his IPL career.
During a 2024 match against Gujarat Titans, Mayank Yadav left the field after bowling just one over. With LSG defending 163, Thakur was given a much larger responsibility.
He responded with 5 wickets for 30 runs, his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 cricket, and was named Player of the Match. His use of changes of pace and scrambled-seam deliveries played an important role in the performance.
That spell demonstrated that Thakur could deliver when an unexpected opportunity arrived.
Domestic Cricket Kept His India Dream Alive
The biggest part of Thakur's journey, however, happened away from the IPL spotlight.
According to MyKhel, he has taken 81 wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at an economy rate of 7.04 since making his debut in the competition in 2018-19. He was also Vidarbha's leading wicket-taker during the 2025-26 season, finishing with 18 wickets.
Those performances helped keep his name in the selection conversation even when his IPL opportunities were limited.
His performances in Vidarbha's 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign were particularly important. He emerged as the team's leading wicket-taker and produced a notable semifinal spell against Karnataka.
That consistency eventually helped him move toward India A and, ultimately, the senior national team.
From IPL Frustration to India Debut
The India call-up reportedly arrived in an unexpected way.
While collecting his luggage at Nagpur airport, Thakur received a call informing him about his selection for India's T20I squad for the Zimbabwe tour. He initially thought the person giving him the news was joking.
But the opportunity was real.
Thakur made his India T20I debut against Zimbabwe and took the wicket of Brian Bennett with a slower delivery. He has since played two T20Is and taken four wickets for India.
His debut also brought back the nerves he had discussed with Dhoni.
The difference was that this time he knew how to handle them.
What Kohli and Dhoni’s Advice Really Meant
The two pieces of advice were different, but they addressed the same underlying challenge: controlling what you can control.
Kohli's message was about preparation. Selection may not always be in a player's hands, but readiness is.
Dhoni's message was about pressure. Nervousness may not disappear, but a player can learn to accept it and regain composure.
For Thakur, those lessons proved useful during a period when he had limited IPL opportunities.
His journey also highlights why domestic cricket remains so important in India's talent system. An IPL player can spend weeks on the bench, but consistent domestic performances can keep the pathway to the national team open.
What Comes Next for Yash Thakur?
Making an international debut is an important milestone, but establishing a permanent place in India's pace-bowling group will be a much bigger challenge.
India has a deep pool of fast-bowling options, particularly in T20 cricket. Thakur will need to maintain his domestic consistency and make the most of opportunities at the international level.
His variations and ability to change pace give him useful tools in T20 cricket. The next test will be whether he can reproduce that effectiveness consistently against stronger international batting line-ups.
For now, his four wickets in two T20Is represent a promising beginning rather than a finished story.
Final Takeaway
Yash Thakur's difficult IPL phase could easily have become a setback. Instead, conversations with Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni helped him change his approach.
Kohli's emphasis on daily preparation helped Thakur stop worrying about when his next opportunity would arrive. Dhoni's advice taught him to accept pressure, settle down and avoid overthinking.
The result has been a long-awaited India debut after years of domestic cricket and limited IPL opportunities. His next challenge is to turn that opportunity into a sustained international career.
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