Very few cricketers take the traditional route to the Indian team and Prince Yadav’s journey is a perfect example of the same. From playing tennis-ball cricket in the outskirts of Delhi to earning call-ups for India’s ODI and T20I squads, the fast bowler has overcome several setbacks to reach the biggest stage.
Prince Yadav recently received his maiden selection in India’s ODI and T20I squads for the series against Afghanistan, Ireland and England. With India yet to register a win in the T20I series against England, there is a strong possibility that the young pacer could soon make an appearance against the Three Lions.
The 24-year-old comes from Dariyapur Khurd, a village on the outskirts of Delhi. His father Ram Niwas, a retired railway police officer, wanted him to pursue a secure government job instead of cricket. Prince Yadav even cleared the physical test for the Delhi Police but he either failed or deliberately skipped the written examination because he remained focused on becoming a professional cricketer. Throughout this period, his mother Santosh quietly supported his dream while he travelled long distances across Delhi for training.
Unlike most professional cricketers, Prince Yadav did not even bowl with a leather ball until he turned 18. Before that, he built his reputation in tennis-ball tournaments in Najafgarh, where his raw pace caught everyone’s attention. His life changed when coach Amit Vashishtha watched him bowl a spell filled with deadly yorkers and decided to train him professionally. The coach worked on improving his fitness, stamina and bowling technique, while also reminding him that starting at 18 meant he had to work much harder than others to succeed.
Another major setback came in 2019 when the BCCI handed Prince Yadav a two-year ban for age manipulation after he reportedly reduced his age by five years to play an Under-19 tournament for Delhi. After serving the suspension, he returned as a net bowler and gradually rebuilt his career.
His breakthrough came during the 2024 domestic season. Prince Yadav picked up 18 wickets in the Vijay Hazare Trophy with an economy rate of 5.16 before taking 13 wickets for Purani Dilli-6 in the Delhi Premier League. His performances earned him a Rs 30 lakh contract with Lucknow Super Giants.
Prince Yadav continued his impressive form in the IPL, finishing the 2026 season with 16 wickets in 13 matches. One of the biggest highlights was dismissing Virat Kohli for a duck with a sharp inswinger, a delivery Kohli had earlier encouraged him to develop. He has also made a promising start to international cricket, claiming figures of 2/56 on his ODI debut against Afghanistan and 3/22 in his T20I debut against Ireland, further proving that his remarkable rise is only just beginning.
All the best to the youngster!
