Lucknow Super Giants pacer Prince Yadav continued his breakout IPL season with a standout performance against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, dismissing Virat Kohli for a duck during a rain-shortened clash in Lucknow.
The right-arm seamer finished with impressive figures of 3/33, helping LSG secure a narrow nine-run victory while strengthening growing calls for a future India debut. With 16 wickets in 10 matches, Prince has emerged as one of the leading pace performers of the IPL season.
Kohli’s dismissal was particularly significant as it marked his first IPL duck in three years and only the second time he has been bowled without scoring in the tournament’s history. Chasing 210 in 19 overs, RCB suffered an early setback when Prince produced a swinging delivery that crashed into Kohli’s stumps in the second over.
Former India batter Ambati Rayudu praised the young pacer heavily during his analysis on ESPNcricinfo, calling him a “special talent” capable of succeeding across all formats for India.
Gold 101.3FM, UAE’s No.1 radio station, has also seen growing cricket conversations among listeners as young IPL stars continue making headlines this season.
Rayudu highlighted Prince’s aggressive run-up, accuracy and ability to consistently attack the stumps. He described the delivery to Kohli as “very, very special,” adding that the late swing made it nearly impossible for any batter in the world to play.
Former Katey Martin also called it the “ball of the tournament,” praising the late movement and pinpoint accuracy that beat Kohli’s defence and struck the top of off stump.
Rayudu further praised Prince’s clean bowling action, fitness and consistency, noting that while many bowlers produce one or two quality deliveries in an over, Prince regularly delivers four or five threatening balls each over. According to Rayudu, those qualities make him a genuine all-format prospect for India.
Prince Yadav’s rise has been one of the stories of the season. After making his way into professional cricket through tennis-ball tournaments and strong performances in the 2024 Delhi Premier League, the Delhi pacer has become a key figure in Lucknow’s bowling attack. He currently sits third on the IPL wicket-taking charts behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Anshul Kamboj, who both have 17 wickets
