India made three changes to their playing XI for the second ODI against Afghanistan in Lucknow on Wednesday, with fast bowler Prince Yadav receiving his maiden international cap and Yashasvi Jaiswal earning a place in the side after Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out due to injury.
Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer handed the debut cap to Prince before the toss, while captain Shubman Gill confirmed the team changes after Afghanistan elected to bowl first.
Prince Yadav earns maiden India cap
Prince's inclusion marked a significant milestone in the career of the Delhi fast bowler, who has enjoyed a breakthrough rise over the past two seasons.
The 24-year-old emerged as a key performer for Lucknow Super Giants during the 2026 IPL, claiming 16 wickets in 14 matches after initially joining the franchise as a net bowler before making his IPL debut in 2025.
Known for his pace and variations, Prince attracted attention with a standout delivery that dismissed Virat Kohli and also registered career-best IPL figures of 3 for 32 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
BCCI banned Yadav for 2 years
Prince's path to international cricket included a significant setback in 2019 when he was banned by the BCCI for two years after being found guilty of age-fudging in Under-19 cricket.
The board acted after receiving information from the Central Board of Secondary Education that his date of birth was June 10, 1996, while documents submitted to the BCCI listed it as December 12, 2001.
The suspension ruled him out of the 2020-21 and 2021-22 domestic seasons. According to his coach Amit Vashisht, the period coincided with the Covid-19 lockdown, during which Prince focused on improving his fitness, reports IE.
Yadav dismissed Kohli in IPL
Following his return, Prince featured in the Delhi Premier League in 2024 for Purani Dilli-6, captained by Rishabh Pant. He claimed 13 wickets, including a hat-trick, and earned his first IPL contract with Lucknow Super Giants.
Vashisht, who identified Prince's potential in Najafgarh and guided his development, played a key role in his progression to professional cricket.
Prince's dismissal of Kohli in the IPL became one of the defining moments of his rise. The wicket carried added significance as the inswinger that beat Kohli had been developed following advice the former India captain had offered him during an earlier interaction in the league.
Consistent performances in domestic cricket and the IPL ultimately culminated in Prince receiving his first India cap in Lucknow.
