The Ekana Stadium erupted in a deafening roar on Thursday, May 7, 2026, but not for the man everyone expected. As the off-stump of Virat Kohli was rattled by a 140.4 kph nip-backer, the legendary batter stood in disbelief, dismissed for a two-ball silver duck. The architect of this chaos was none other than Prince Yadav, the 24-year-old Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pacer who has transformed from a ₹30 lakh “project” into the most feared young arm of IPL 2026. With LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka seen celebrating wildly in the stands, Prince Yadav has officially arrived as the “Giant Killer” of the season, cementing his place in the Purple Cap race and the hearts of the Lucknow faithful.
Prince yadav gets King Kohli
— Kaka____Singh (@kakabhukal) May 7, 2026
Heis only good thing for LSG in whole Season👏 pic.twitter.com/wGSLBIJFDY
From Najafgarh’s Tennis Ball Fields To IPL Stardom: Who Is Prince Yadav?
Hailing from the same neighbourhood as the legendary Virender Sehwag, Prince Yadav did not start his career with a leather ball. Until the age of 18, he was a superstar of tennis-ball cricket in the rural hamlets of Najafgarh. It was his father, Ram Niwas, who once forced him to appear for the Delhi Police Constable exam, who eventually backed his “audacious” dream. Discovered by coach Amit Vashistha, Prince spent years training in paddy fields with sandbags on his back to build upper-body strength. This raw, unconventional background gave him a natural whip in his arm speed that now clocks consistently above 140 kph, making him a nightmare for top-order batters.
The Lucknow Connection: How Prince Yadav Became LSG’s Secret Weapon?
Prince’s journey with Lucknow Super Giants began as a lowly net bowler in 2023. His relentless accuracy caught the eye of Justin Langer and Zaheer Khan, leading to his purchase at the 2025 auction. Despite a two-year ban early in his career due to age-related discrepancies, Prince used the COVID-19 lockdown to build his own home gym and return stronger. After a sensational Vijay Hazare Trophy for Delhi (18 wickets in 8 games), LSG retained him for IPL 2026. This season, he has been preferred over international names like Mohsin Khan, proving his worth by dismissing elites like Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan, and now, the “King” himself.
Analyzing The Delivery That Bowled Virat Kohli
The wicket of Virat Kohli on May 7 was a masterclass in seam bowling. After Mohammed Shami dismissed Jacob Bethell in the first over, Prince took the new ball from the other end. He set Kohli up with a standard outswinger, followed by a lethal 140.4 kph inswinger. Kohli leaned forward to push the ball through the off-side, but the delivery nipped back sharply through the gate, crashing into the off-stump. It was Kohli’s first silver duck in recent memory and Prince’s most significant scalp to date. With 15 wickets already in the bag this season, Prince Yadav is no longer just a “local talent”; he is the future of Indian pace bowling.
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