Prince Yadav is one of the promising fast bowlers to emerge from Delhi’s domestic cricket circuit in recent years, known for his pace, yorkers, and fearless approach against top batsmen.
His journey has included both setbacks, including a high-profile age-fraud ban, and triumphs, culminating in his maiden India call-up. Here’s a complete look at his life and cricketing career.
Who Is Prince Yadav?
Prince Yadav is an Indian cricketer who plays as a right-arm fast-medium bowler. He represents Delhi in domestic cricket and Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
He gained wider recognition through his performances in the Delhi Premier League and earned his maiden international call-up to the Indian ODI squad for a series against Afghanistan in 2026.
Profile
| Full Name | Prince Yadav |
| Born | June 10, 1996 (per CBSE records; previously listed as December 12, 2001) |
| Birthplace | Delhi, India (Najafgarh region) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Professional Cricketer |
| Height | 5’7″ (170 cm) |
| Role | Right-arm fast-medium bowler |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Domestic Team | Delhi |
| IPL Team | Lucknow Super Giants |
| Parents | Ram Niwas Yadav (father, Assistant Sub-Inspector, Railway Protection Force) |
| Net Worth | ₹40–50 lakh |
Early Life
Prince Yadav was born in Delhi and grew up in the Najafgarh region, hailing from a humble, middle-class family that encouraged sports.
His father, Ram Niwas Yadav, served as an Assistant Sub-Inspector in the Railway Protection Force and had hoped his son would join the Delhi Police, though Prince pursued a very different path.
From around the age of 12, Yadav frequently skipped school to play cricket, initially competing in tennis-ball cricket tournaments and traveling to cities like Surat and Kolkata to take part in local competitions, developing a reputation as a “yorker king” in the process.
Education
Various profiles list differing educational qualifications for Prince Yadav, including records citing a BBA from GNIOT Institute of Professional Studies and a B.Tech from Galgotias University, alongside schooling under the CBSE board. Given the common nature of his name, some of these records may correspond to other individuals, and his precise academic history is not consistently documented across sources.
Career
Yadav’s cricketing break came at age 17, when a new leather-ball academy opened in his village. Delhi cricketer Lalit Yadav spotted him bowling at the academy and encouraged him to switch academies, leading him to Najafgarh, the hometown of legendary Indian batsman Virender Sehwag, where he could access better coaching and facilities.
In December 2019, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) banned Yadav from domestic cricket for two seasons after finding him guilty of age fudging. Yadav had submitted a birth certificate listing his date of birth as December 12, 2001; however, after investigating a complaint, the BCCI cross-checked his academic records with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which confirmed he had passed his Class X exams in 2012, establishing his actual date of birth as June 10, 1996. Despite this significant setback, Yadav worked his way back into competitive cricket following his ban.
He made his first-class debut for Uttar Pradesh in June 2022, before later representing Delhi, making his Ranji Trophy debut against Jammu and Kashmir in January 2024. He gained significant attention through his performances in the Delhi Premier League T20, where playing for the Rishabh Pant-led Purani Delhi 6 in the 2024 season, he took 13 wickets in ten matches while showing an ability to vary his pace effectively. This form earned him a white-ball debut for Delhi in the 2024–25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he picked up two crucial wickets against Uttar Pradesh, dismissing Nitish Rana and Sameer Rizvi, and went on to finish the tournament as Delhi’s highest wicket-taker with 11 wickets.
His strong domestic form led to his signing by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for ₹30 lakh at the IPL 2025 mega auction. He played five matches in his debut IPL season, taking two wickets, including a notable dismissal of Australian batsman Travis Head. LSG retained him ahead of the 2026 season, during which he continued to impress with strong performances, including a standout spell against Delhi Capitals in which he dismissed Pathum Nissanka and captain Axar Patel. In 2026, Yadav earned his maiden call-up to the Indian national team for an ODI series against Afghanistan, marking a significant milestone in his cricketing career.
Awards & Nominations
While Prince Yadav has not received major individual cricketing awards, his standout performances in the Delhi Premier League and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he finished as Delhi’s leading wicket-taker, represent significant career achievements that led to his IPL contract and India call-up.
Social Media
Prince Yadav is active on social media, where he shares updates about his cricketing career, fitness routines, and travels with his growing fanbase.
Personal Life
Prince Yadav has largely kept his personal life private, with limited publicly available details beyond his family background in Delhi’s Najafgarh region.
He has spoken about the challenges of overcoming his 2019–2020 BCCI ban for age fraud and has credited his family and early struggles for shaping his determination to succeed in professional cricket.
Net Worth
Prince Yadav’s net worth is unofficially estimated to be in the range of ₹40–50 lakh as of 2026, according to various sports outlets, with his earnings derived primarily from his IPL contract with Lucknow Super Giants, domestic cricket match fees, and his recent India call-up.
Career Highlights
- First-Class debut for Uttar Pradesh (June 2022); later represented Delhi in Ranji Trophy (2024)
- Delhi’s highest wicket-taker in the 2024–25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (11 wickets)
- Signed by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹30 lakh at the IPL 2025 mega auction
- Dismissed Travis Head in his maiden IPL wicket
- Maiden India call-up for the 2026 ODI series against Afghanistan
FAQs
What is Prince Yadav’s actual date of birth?
Following a BCCI investigation, his date of birth was confirmed as June 10, 1996, based on CBSE academic records, after he had previously submitted a certificate listing December 12, 2001.
Which IPL team does Prince Yadav play for?
He plays for Lucknow Super Giants.
What is Prince Yadav known for?
He is known for his pace bowling, yorkers, and his rise from domestic Delhi cricket to earning an India call-up in 2026.
Was Prince Yadav banned by the BCCI?
Yes, he was banned from domestic cricket for two seasons in December 2019 after being found guilty of age fudging.
Which domestic team does Prince Yadav represent?
He represents Delhi in domestic cricket.
Conclusion
Prince Yadav’s journey from tennis-ball cricket tournaments in Najafgarh to earning a maiden India call-up reflects a story of resilience following a significant career setback. Having overcome his BCCI ban to establish himself as one of Delhi’s most promising young pacers, his continued development suggests a cricketer with a bright future ahead in Indian cricket.
