NEW CHANDIGARH: It was not long ago that Prince Yadav was often beaten up by his father for wandering around the neighborhood to play tennis ball cricket. Until the age of 17, Prince played every tennis ball and cricket match in Daryapur Khurd, a village beyond Virender Sehwag’s birthplace Najafgarh, on the southwestern outskirts of the capital.“Bahat mar khata tha ghar pe. (I was beaten a lot at home),” says the LSG fast bowler with a mischievous smile while interacting with TOI here.Go beyond limits with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!At first glance it is difficult to imagine Prince as a fast bowler. He doesn’t stand very tall and the ultra-lean body can be very deceiving. His father’s (retired railway police force) apprehensions were justified. Much of the family’s income depended on wheat cultivation, perhaps Prince was not adding anything to it. But ironically, he is busy playing tennis-ball cricket even at the age of 24, even as he is fast becoming the standout uncapped Indian fast bowler in the IPL.“I still play tennis ball cricket after I came back from last year’s IPL. I can’t speak for everyone, but it helps my arm speed because you have to work hard to hit a tennis ball fast. (Yorkers go hard),” he says, before quickly moving on.IPL 2026: Best bowling average and strike rate (minimum 10 wickets)
On Sunday, Prince came out of the carnage of the Punjab Kings batsmen with figures of 2/25 in his four overs. He is known for his yorkers in Delhi cricket. This year, though, he looks like a more rounded bowler. LSG bowling coach Bharat Irwin claims that he has all the ingredients to make a special fast bowler. “We have seen that he can swing the ball and have variations. He has a good variety of slower balls and yorkers. And whenever he gets a chance to bowl he works hard to sharpen those skills,” says Irwin.Prince has been learning on the job ever since he was picked by former Delhi cricketer Lalit Yadav who insisted he join an academy 15 km from his home at the age of 17. And during LSG’s practice sessions, it’s impossible to look away from Prince. Muhammad Shami. He would walk up to Shami after every delivery, and try to shake his head.“It’s a pleasure to bowl with someone like Shami. He’s always there with all the young fast bowlers. Whenever we’re not practicing, he’ll talk about life off the field.” He goes out with us, Prince said, “I can’t share what he says because those things are very personal.”“After the last IPL, I was in constant touch Zaheer Khan (LSG mentor last year). I have spent a lot of time with Ishant Sharma in the Delhi State team. “Ever since I came to Delhi cricket, I’ve only been learning about the art of fast bowling,” he added.Everything seems to be going fast for Prince at the moment. But he suffered a severe blow when the BCCI banned him for two years due to age disorder in 2020 after he played under-19 cricket within a year of playing the hard ball. “It was a very dark phase. My family supported me because they thought I could do something in my life by playing cricket.” Former Delhi fast bowler Pradeep Sangwan came to me and said that he will train me during this period. For two years, I quietly trained with him and played tennis ball cricket. That’s why I could hit the ground running right after Prohibition ended,” recalls Prince.Prince is now on the BCCI’s shortlist of targeted fast bowlers. He is seen as a talent who can take India’s fast bowling forward. But for now, he is happy just watching his family play cricket.
