NEW CHANDIGARH: Prince Yadav’s path to becoming one of the IPL’s most talked-about uncapped fast-bowling prospects began long before he wore a professional jersey. As a teenager, he spent his time in Dariyapur Khurd—located beyond Virender Sehwag’s birthplace in Najafgarh on the south-western edge of Delhi—where tennis-ball cricket was the default form of training and entertainment.
Key takeaways
- Prince Yadav played tennis-ball cricket regularly in Dariyapur Khurd until he turned 17.
- He currently bowls for LSG and recently returned figures of 2/25 in four overs against Punjab Kings.
- LSG’s bowling coach Bharat Arun believes Prince has swing, tactical variations, slower balls, and a strong yorker skill set.
- Prince credits Mohammed Shami’s presence and guidance during LSG practice sessions as a major learning advantage.
- In 2020, the BCCI banned him for two years due to age-fudging after he played U-19 cricket within a year of switching to hard-ball cricket.
- He is now listed by the BCCI among targeted fast bowlers and remains focused on building a consistent international-ready pace profile.
From tennis-ball streets to IPL strike potential
Prince recalls how his early days were anything but glamorous. He says that at home he would often get told off for lingering around to play tennis-ball cricket, adding that he never had ambitions of turning professional. Instead, he claims the sport was simply something he enjoyed—nothing more, nothing less.
At first glance, it can be difficult to picture him as a genuine fast-bowling option. He isn’t especially tall, and his lean build can mislead people about what he can deliver at pace. He also admits that his father’s worries were understandable; the family’s income largely came from farming wheat. Yet the irony is that even at 24, he remains deeply involved with tennis-ball cricket—while simultaneously emerging as a notable uncapped fast bowler in the IPL.
Tennis-ball cricket as a pace accelerant
Prince says he still plays tennis-ball cricket after returning from the previous IPL season. He believes the practice helps him maintain arm speed because bowling fast with a tennis ball demands real effort. He also suggests that the quick yorker option feels natural in that format, and he uses tennis-ball sessions to sharpen that attacking length.
When he gets time away from cricket, Prince turns to farming. He says he harvested wheat just a few days before the interview, showing that the rural routine still plays a part in his off-field life.
Recent IPL outing and the evolution in his bowling
On Sunday, Prince stepped out after Punjab Kings batters had inflicted a heavy beating and produced bowling figures of 2/25 from his four overs. While he has often been associated with yorkers in Delhi conditions, he now appears, at least to his coaching group, to be developing into a more complete bowler rather than relying on one dimension.
LSG bowling coach Bharat Arun says Prince has the core tools needed to become a special pace operator. Arun highlights that Prince can get the ball to move through the air, offers bowling variations, and also has a good mix that includes slower-ball options alongside yorkers. Arun also stresses that Prince works hard to refine those skills whenever he is given a window to bowl.
Mentorship, learning on the job, and Shami’s influence
Prince’s development has been shaped by structured guidance as well as day-to-day pace education. He was brought into an academy about 15 kilometres from his home at the age of 17, a step that followed an insistence from former Delhi cricketer Lalit Yadav. During LSG practice sessions, Prince is rarely far from Mohammed Shami. The routine is simple: after each delivery, he walks up to Shami to seek a nod or feedback.
Prince describes how fortunate he feels to bowl alongside a fast-bowling senior like Shami. He says Shami is always supportive of young quicks, and that when training is not in full swing, Shami talks about life beyond the ground. Prince adds that he cannot share the details of those conversations because they are personal.
He also notes that after the last IPL he stayed in regular contact with Zaheer Khan, who was linked with LSG as a mentor at the time. In addition, Prince says he spent significant time with Ishant Sharma while in the Delhi state setup. Since entering Delhi cricket, he believes he has been learning the art of fast bowling in a deeper, more deliberate way.
The setback that forged his comeback
For Prince, progress has come quickly, but not without disruption. He faced a major setback when the BCCI banned him for two years in 2020 for age-related issues. The ban followed his participation in U-19 cricket within a year of playing hard-ball cricket, and he describes that period as a “dark phase.”
Prince says his family stood by him because they understood that cricket could still change his future. During the suspension, he received training support from former Delhi fast bowler Pradeep Sangwan, who told him he would coach him through the period. Prince recalls that for two years he trained quietly with Sangwan and continued playing tennis-ball cricket, which he believes is exactly why he was able to hit the ground running immediately after the ban ended.
Targeted fast-bowler spotlight and what comes next
Prince is now included in the BCCI’s shortlist of targeted fast bowlers. The view around him is that he could help carry India’s pace-bowling future forward. For now, though, he remains focused on the immediate emotional reward—seeing his family happy as they watch him play cricket.
