Prince Yadav sent a clear statement to the IPL 2026 stage with a devastating spell for Lucknow Super Giants against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and the impact of his work has already sparked talk of a potential “ball of the tournament.” Former India batter Ambati Rayudu was among the first to heap praise on the young fast bowler after the kind of delivery that left Virat Kohli visibly rattled during the chase.
The match was staged as a rain-affected, shortened contest at Ekana Stadium, with teams playing a 19-over game. In that reduced chase, Prince produced a pinpoint piece of bowling to remove Kohli for a duck and swing the momentum firmly in LSG’s favour.
At 140.4 kph, Prince unleashed a sharp nip-backer that behaved aggressively off the pitch. The ball swung late—reported as moving more than 1.4 degrees—then hit the narrow seam between bat and pad before crashing into the off stump. Kohli was left with no answer, and the LSG camp erupted immediately after the wicket.
That dismissal carried added weight beyond the scoreboard. It was Kohli’s first IPL duck since 2023 and his first score of zero while chasing in nine years. The last time he had been dismissed for a duck during an innings in a chase came back in 2017, when RCB were bundled out for 49 against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens.
Prince did not stop at the one breakthrough. He finished the spell with figures of 3/33, a haul that proved pivotal as Lucknow secured a nine-run DLS win. The result kept their playoff chances very much alive.
Rayudu hails Prince’s “four to five” good balls
Discussing the performance on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show, Rayudu said the difference with Prince is how frequently he delivers at the top end of his ability rather than producing only an occasional moment of brilliance.
“A lot of bowlers bowl one or two good balls in an over. This guy bowls about four to five. That’s his strength, I don’t think any batsman in the world can play that,” Rayudu said.
Rayudu also argued that Prince has the skill set to grow into a bowler who can thrive in every format. He specifically pointed to the promise he shows for longer spells and high-pressure fielding positions.
“I think he’ll be a treat to stand [to] in the slips. Seriously, to watch this guy bowl—unbelievable. It’ll be a total pleasure to stand in first or second slip to him. He is a potential 50-over bowler as well. I think he’s an all-format bowler, the way he’s looking right now,” Rayudu added.
Katey Martin calls it the “ball of the tournament”
Former New Zealand cricketer Katey Martin echoed the admiration and branded Prince’s delivery to Kohli as the kind of ball that fast bowlers dream of producing. She highlighted not only the late swing back into the stumps, but also the accuracy that threatened the top of the off bail.
“You have to see that as the ball of the tournament. Not just because of the way he was able to swing late as well, back into the stumps, top of off, effectively, your perfect delivery and maybe something that Prince Yadav dreams of. Of that particular delivery, especially to Virat Kohli, who we thought was going to be a really key factor in that chase as well,” Martin said.
Martin also noted what it would mean for fielding setups, pointing out that Prince’s ability to challenge batters consistently makes him a special option behind the stumps.
- Rayudu and Martin both praised Prince Yadav’s ability to deliver repeated high-quality balls rather than isolated moments.
- Both highlighted the late swing and precision that turned the dismissal of Virat Kohli into a standout IPL moment.
Rayudu further underlined why Prince would be a joy in slip catching positions, tying the praise directly to the way he keeps beating the bat.
“I think he’ll be a treat to stand to in the slips. Seriously, to watch this guy bowl, unbelievable. He is a potential 50-over bowler as well. I think he’s an all-format bowler,” Rayudu concluded.
