Prince Yadav's ODI call-up a deserved reward, says Umesh Yadav
Synopsis
Veteran pacer Umesh Yadav has put his stamp of approval on Prince Yadav's maiden India ODI call-up, singling out the youngster's inswing — including a dismissal of Virat Kohli — as the skill that sets him apart. With 16 IPL wickets and a rare game awareness for his age, Prince heads into the Afghanistan series as one of Indian cricket's most watched new faces.
Key Takeaways
Prince Yadav has been named in India's squad for a one-off Test and three-match ODI series against Afghanistan at home next month.
He claimed 16 wickets for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026 , earning his maiden senior India call-up.
Veteran pacer Umesh Yadav praised Prince's variety, including his yorker, slower ball, and inswing as standout attributes.
Umesh highlighted Prince's dismissal of Virat Kohli with an inswinging delivery as 'pure class.' This is Prince Yadav's first inclusion in an India senior squad, making the Afghanistan series a potential debut platform.
Veteran India pacer Umesh Yadav has backed the selection of young Lucknow Super Giants bowler Prince Yadav for India's upcoming ODI series, calling the maiden call-up a fitting recognition of the pacer's standout IPL 2026 campaign. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Tuesday that Prince has been named in India's squad for a one-off Test and a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan at home, scheduled for next month.
Umesh Yadav's Verdict on the Selection
'Prince Yadav's ODI call-up is a well-deserved reward for his performances this IPL season,' Umesh Yadav said. 'He has put in serious hard work over the last year. What stands out is the variety he brings to his bowling. He knows exactly when to swing the ball and when to hit the hard length. That kind of game awareness is rare in young bowlers.'
Umesh also highlighted the youngster's aggressive instincts. 'He is not afraid to bowl bouncers. Whenever he senses the batter is comfortable, he goes short and asks a different question. That is a valuable skill, especially in white-ball cricket,' he added.
Prince Yadav's Bowling Arsenal
Beyond raw pace, Prince Yadav has demonstrated a well-rounded skill set that has drawn attention at the highest level. 'He also has an accurate yorker and a well-disguised slower ball that often catches batters off guard. But his inswing is his real weapon. The way he got Virat Kohli with an in-swinging delivery was pure class,' Umesh remarked.
Notably, the ability to dismiss a batter of Kohli's calibre with a planned inswinger underscores the kind of temperament selectors look for in a prospective international pacer.
IPL 2026 Numbers That Earned the Call-Up
Prince Yadav claimed 16 wickets for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026, emerging as one of the franchise's most reliable bowlers across the tournament. His consistent performances in domestic cricket and successive IPL seasons had already placed him on the selectors' radar, and this squad inclusion marks a significant milestone in his career.
This is the first time Prince has been named in an India senior squad, making the Afghanistan series a potential debut opportunity on home soil.
What Umesh Expects Next
'I am genuinely happy to see him get his first India call-up. He has the talent, the skills, and the mindset to go a long way. If he stays fit and keeps learning, he can become a great asset for Indian cricket,' Umesh Yadav said.
With India's pace department increasingly looking to blood young talent, Prince's selection fits a broader pattern of the BCCI rewarding consistent IPL performers with national exposure. How he fares against Afghanistan will determine whether he cements a longer place in the white-ball setup.
Point of View
Giving selectors a controlled look at a prospect. What makes this one interesting is the specific skill Umesh flagged: inswing at pace, demonstrated against Virat Kohli in a live IPL match. That is not a manufactured highlight. The Afghanistan series at home is the right environment to test whether those skills hold under international pressure, but the real measure will come when India face a stiffer white-ball challenge. One series does not a career make, and Prince will need to convert this opportunity into consistent performances before he can be considered a fixture in the ODI setup.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Prince Yadav selected for India's ODI squad?
Prince Yadav was selected on the back of a strong IPL 2026 campaign with Lucknow Super Giants, where he took 16 wickets and was one of the team's most consistent performers. The BCCI named him in the squad for the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan at home next month.
What did Umesh Yadav say about Prince Yadav's bowling?
Umesh Yadav praised Prince Yadav's variety, highlighting his ability to swing the ball, bowl bouncers, deliver accurate yorkers, and disguise his slower ball. He called Prince's inswing his 'real weapon' and described his dismissal of Virat Kohli as 'pure class.'
Who is Prince Yadav and which IPL team does he play for?
Prince Yadav is a young Indian fast bowler who plays for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL. He has drawn national attention through consistent performances in domestic cricket and successive IPL seasons, culminating in his maiden India senior squad call-up in 2026.
When is India's series against Afghanistan scheduled?
India's one-off Test and three-match ODI series against Afghanistan is scheduled for next month, according to the BCCI announcement made on Tuesday. The series will be played at home in India.
How many wickets did Prince Yadav take in IPL 2026?
Prince Yadav took 16 wickets for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026, making him one of the tournament's notable pace performers and a key factor in his selection to the India squad.
