A few weeks ago, hardly anyone imagined Prince Yadav’s India ODI call-up would arrive this quickly. Truthfully, Prince himself probably did not expect it either. One moment he was bowling for Lucknow Super Giants, the next he was being picked in the India ODI squad for Afghanistan. For a young fast bowler who recently made headlines by knocking over Virat Kohli for a duck, life has changed ridiculously fast. Even though LSG’s season has not ended with playoff success, the young quick has quietly become one of the breakout names of the tournament.
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From Najafgarh Dreams To The National Team
The journey behind Prince Yadav’s India ODI call-up makes the story even better. Prince comes from Dariyapur Khurd, a small village in southwest Delhi where professional cricket was never really viewed as a realistic career option. His father, Ram Niwas Yadav, worked in the Railway Protection Special Force and initially wanted his son to pursue something more stable, like the police or armed forces. In fact, Prince even passed the Delhi Police physical test at one stage. But cricket completely consumed him. His father once admitted:
“He had this junoon (obsession). But we were from Dariyapur Khurd. No academies. No one in the family had done it before.”
That line honestly says everything about the struggle. While other teenagers were moving through proper academy systems, Prince was travelling ridiculous distances just to practise hard-ball cricket. His mother quietly supported him throughout, despite concerns from the rest of the family about whether cricket could actually provide a future.
From Vijay Hazare guidance to Team India dreams 🇮🇳✨
Virat Kohli’s words aged beautifully as Prince Yadav earns his maiden ODI call-up. pic.twitter.com/fyg0NsvW8Z
— CricketGully (@thecricketgully) May 19, 2026
One of the more surprising parts of the story is that Prince Yadav’s India ODI call-up nearly never happened. Back in 2019, Prince was handed a two-year ban after age-related discrepancies were discovered in BCCI records. For many young players, that sort of punishment can completely derail a career before it properly begins.
Prince Yadav. Team India. Goosebumps 💙🥹🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/fit0uycyLj
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) May 19, 2026
Luckily for him, the Covid lockdown arrived during that same period, which oddly helped him reset mentally and physically. His coach Amit Vashisht later explained that Prince focused heavily on fitness during those years away from competitive cricket. That patience turned out to be crucial. Instead of disappearing from the system, he came back stronger and more determined.
Prince Yadav Finally Explodes Onto The IPL Scene
The biggest turning point in Prince Yadav in IPL 2026 probably came through the Delhi Premier League. Playing for Purani Dilli-6 under Rishabh Pant’s leadership, Prince picked up 13 wickets and even grabbed a hat-trick. That performance earned him an IPL contract with Lucknow Super Giants.
Prince Yadav, a wicket every game, and shining this IPL 🙏 pic.twitter.com/He59azsP3i
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) April 22, 2026
Although LSG struggled overall this season, Prince Yadav in IPL 2026 became one of the few genuine positives for the franchise. He consistently bowled with aggression, pace and control — something Indian selectors clearly noticed. Then came the moment everyone remembers: the Kohli wicket.
A moment to savour for Prince Yadav!
He dismisses Virat Kohli for a duck with a peach of a delivery, flattening the off stump 🤯#LSGvsRCB #IPL2026 pic.twitter.com/eEHU4eo6SF
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) May 7, 2026
There is something almost poetic about the fact that Virat Kohli unintentionally helped create the delivery that eventually dismissed him. Earlier in the domestic season, Kohli had spoken to Prince about improving his inswinger during Vijay Hazare Trophy matches. Kohli himself later revealed they had developed a good relationship during those conversations. Prince listened carefully.
𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 😮 \|/
🎥 An absolute peach of a delivery from the young fast bowler to rattle the stumps 💥
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/W0eDq9aWb7#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #LSGvRCB | @LucknowIPL pic.twitter.com/YlxbQO9Oma
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 7, 2026
Then, during IPL 2026, he used that very inswinger to bowl Kohli for a duck. Suddenly, clips of Prince Yadav in IPL 2026 went viral everywhere. Fans loved the raw emotion, the pace and the confidence. More importantly, selectors probably saw a fast bowler capable of handling pressure on big occasions. That wicket instantly elevated his profile nationally.
Our Prince. For India. ❤️💙 https://t.co/i9rT1G3MK4 pic.twitter.com/AckzifQ5GN
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) May 19, 2026
His Numbers Actually Back The Hype
The important thing is that Prince Yadav’s India ODI call-up is not based on one viral moment alone. His domestic numbers have been excellent. During the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he collected 18 wickets in eight matches at an average below 20, placing him among the tournament’s leading wicket-takers. His economy rate also stayed impressively controlled, which matters hugely in ODI cricket.
Wishing you a dream-come-true ODI chapter in Blue, Prince 🙌 pic.twitter.com/bQnhY5gTwI
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) May 19, 2026
Meanwhile, Prince Yadav in IPL 2026 produced 16 wickets in 12 matches despite playing for an inconsistent LSG side that often struggled to defend totals. What makes him especially interesting is the skill set. He can move the ball both ways at high speed, bowls accurate yorkers and is also regarded as an excellent fielder with a strong throwing arm. Modern ODI cricket values complete athletes, and Prince seems to tick many of those boxes already.
Delighted to see Prince Yadav earn his maiden ODI call-up for India. His rise this IPL season has been a joy to witness. He has the heart, the hunger, and the fearlessness to take on the best. This is just the beginning. Congratulations, Prince. I’m proud of you, and so is… pic.twitter.com/KSZrPkTERd
— Dr. Sanjiv Goenka (@DrSanjivGoenka) May 19, 2026
India clearly appear to be thinking about long-term pace depth. With Jasprit Bumrah being carefully managed and several senior bowlers rotating in and out of formats, the selectors are looking for younger seamers capable of stepping into international cricket quickly. That is why the India ODI squad for Afghanistan feels important beyond just one bilateral series.
🚨 𝑹𝑬𝑷𝑶𝑹𝑻𝑺 🚨
Prince Yadav and Mohsin Khan could be in line for India’s ODI squad against Afghanistan 🇮🇳
With Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj’s workload and fitness being monitored closely, the selectors are considering backup pace options ahead of the series.… pic.twitter.com/28vu0H5cxw
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) May 19, 2026
The inclusion of Prince signals that India are rewarding strong domestic and IPL performances more aggressively than before. Rather than relying entirely on reputation, they seem increasingly willing to test younger quicks early. And honestly, Prince Yadav’s India ODI call-up feels fully deserved based on what he has shown this season.
“A Story That Still Feels Unreal”
Perhaps the most emotional reaction came from Prince’s father after hearing the news. He reportedly said:
“Mere samajh main nahin aa raha itni jaldi yeh sab kaise ho gaya.” Which translates roughly to: “I cannot believe how all this has happened so quickly.”
That probably sums up the feeling around India ODI squad for Afghanistan perfectly as well. A young fast bowler from a small Delhi village has suddenly become part of India’s national setup after one unforgettable IPL season. And considering how impressive Prince Yadav in IPL 2026 has already looked, there is every chance this is only the beginning.
