From Village Fields to IPL Glory: The Prince Yadav Story
In the quiet village of Dariyapur Khurd, beyond Najafgarh on Delhi's southwestern outskirts, a young Prince Yadav faced regular scoldings from his father for spending hours playing tennis-ball cricket. "I used to get a lot of beating at home," recalls the Lucknow Super Giants pacer with a knowing smile. "I never aspired to become a professional cricketer. The thought never even crossed my mind. I just enjoyed playing tennis-ball cricket and did nothing else."
The Unlikely Fast Bowler
At first glance, Prince doesn't fit the traditional image of a fast bowler. His lean physique and modest height might deceive observers, but his father's concerns were understandable. As a retired Railways Police Force personnel watching his son seemingly contribute little to the family's wheat farming income, the future appeared uncertain. Yet today, at 24, Prince Yadav stands as one of IPL's most promising uncapped Indian fast bowlers while maintaining his connection to both tennis-ball cricket and farming.
"I still play tennis-ball cricket even after coming back from last year's IPL," Prince explains. "It helps me with my arm speed because you need to put in a lot of effort to bowl fast with the tennis ball. You can bowl a quick yorker." When not on the cricket field, he returns to his roots: "Whenever I get time off from cricket, I go to the farms. I am in love with farming. We harvested wheat just a few days back."
Technical Transformation and Mentorship
Prince's recent performance against Punjab Kings—where he emerged with impressive figures of 2/25 despite the batting onslaught—demonstrates his growing prowess. Known for deadly yorkers in Delhi cricket circles, he has evolved into a more complete bowler this season.
LSG bowling coach Bharat Arun recognizes his potential: "We have seen that he can get the ball to swing and also has variations. He has got a good variety of slower balls and the yorkers. And he works very hard towards sharpening those skills whenever he gets a chance to bowl."
The transformation began when former Delhi cricketer Lalit Yadav spotted Prince at 17 and insisted he join an academy 15 kilometers from home. Today, during LSG practice sessions, Prince remains inseparable from veteran Mohammed Shami, seeking guidance after every delivery.
"You have to be blessed to bowl with someone like Shami," Prince gushes. "He is always with all the young fast bowlers. He will talk about life off the field whenever we are not practicing." Beyond Shami, Prince has benefited from mentorship by Zaheer Khan and Delhi teammate Ishant Sharma, immersing himself completely in the art of fast bowling.
Overcoming Adversity
Prince's journey hasn't been without setbacks. In 2020, the BCCI banned him for two years for age-fudging after he played U-19 cricket shortly after transitioning to hard-ball cricket. "That was a very dark phase," he recalls. "My family supported me because they understood I could do something in my life by playing cricket."
Former Delhi fast bowler Pradeep Sangwan stepped in during this period, providing crucial training that kept Prince prepared. "For two years, I quietly trained with him and played tennis-ball cricket. That's why I could hit the ground running immediately after the ban ended."
A Bright Future Ahead
Today, Prince Yadav finds himself on the BCCI's shortlist of targeted fast bowlers, viewed as potential future leader of India's pace attack. Yet amidst the recognition and rapid career progression, his greatest satisfaction remains simple: seeing his family happy while watching him play cricket.
From the wheat fields of Dariyapur Khurd to the bright lights of the IPL, Prince Yadav's story embodies the unexpected paths to sporting excellence, where tennis-ball cricket, agricultural roots, and relentless perseverance combine to create cricket's newest fast-bowling prospect.
