Former New Zealand cricketer Katey Martin praised Prince Yadav after Lucknow Super Giants registered a nine-run win against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Thursday.
Yadav got the big wicket of Virat Kohli when LSG were defending a DLS score of 213 runs on Thursday. The right-arm seamer got the ball to seam back into the veteran batter to give his team a head start in the innings. Martin rated that delivery as the ball of the tournament.
Prince eventually returned with impressive figures of 3-33 in his quota of four overs and also accounted for Devdutt Padikkal and out-of-form Jitesh Sharma.
Yadav has scalped 16 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 18.68 and an economy rate of 8.08 in the ongoing IPL 2026.
Katey Martin said on ESPN Cricinfo, “You [have to] see that as the ball of the tournament. Not just because of the way he was able to swing late as well, back into the stumps, top of off, [but] effectively, [that was] your perfect delivery and maybe something that Prince Yadav dreams of. Of that particular delivery, especially to Virat Kohli, who we thought was going to be a really key factor in that chase as well.”
Martin said Yadav has got all the variations under his belt, and he is making the most of them.
“He’s got all the variations we saw in the backend – the slower deliveries as well. I just love his alignment, so beautiful through the crease. We’re here sitting talking about a fast bowler. I think it’s probably Ian Bishop’s position: if you’re facing him, you feel like he was getting on a lot quicker [than expected] because he’s got that skiddiness.”
On the other hand, former Indian batter Ambati Rayudu felt no batter in the world would have been able to play that peach of a delivery from Prince Yadav.
He said, “I don’t think any batsman in the world can play that. That ball [to get Kohli] was very, very special. The seam stayed up. This is a huge wicket. It’s Virat Kohli. Prince Yadav, who too comes from Delhi, plays for Delhi, gets his Delhi team-mate.”
Lucknow Super Giants will next take on Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Sunday.
