New Delhi, April 7 A few years ago, Ram Niwas Yadav, an ASI with the Railway Protection Force based in Najafgarh, was deeply concerned about the future of his youngest son, Prince, who was only passionate about bowling yorkers at tennis ball tournaments.
However, the young boy remained calm and told his father, "Dad, please stop worrying about me. I will manage on my own."
Fast forward to 2026, and the seemingly nonchalant boy has indeed delivered on his promise. The Lucknow Super Giants' swing sensation has already impressed experienced Indian internationals like Axar Patel and Ishan Kishan in successive IPL games.
"Any father would be worried about his children's future, and so was I. Until he was 18, he hadn't even bowled with a leather ball. I actually pushed him to take the Delhi Police's Constable Exam, and he passed the physical round."
"But he wasn't well-prepared for the written test because his mind was elsewhere," recalled Ram Niwas.
But like most fathers, he too had no choice but to support his son's audacious dreams.
"Since his passion was cricket, I had to believe in him. But how much can you manage with an ASI's salary?" said Ram Niwas, who now has people from the nearby Kheda Dabar village in Najafgarh's Dariyapur coming to his house thanks to Prince's IPL exploits.
"After Ishan Kishan's dismissal in the LSG vs SRH game, many of our neighbours came and told me, 'He has brought fame to this hamlet'," said Ram Niwas.
"Before, people knew our area because of a visit by former President Pratibha Patil to the Chaudhary Bramprakash Ayurvedic Sansthan in 2012. Now, it's famous for cricket," Ram Niwas said with pride.
According to Ram Niwas, Prince's first and only coach, Amit Vashistha, and former India U-19 World Cup winning pacer Pradeep Sangwan, played the biggest role in shaping Prince.
"I can't thank Amit sir enough. He saw him playing a tennis ball tournament and asked Prince to join his academy in Najafgarh. Pradeep ji (Sangwan) was also Amit sir's student, and he helped him with fitness," said Ram Niwas.
There was a time when Prince would tie a sand bag on his back and run through paddy fields to improve his upper body fitness.
"Pradeep guided him a lot, and Amit sir taught him technique. And how can I forget the DPL (Delhi Premier League) and New Delhi team? If the DPL hadn't been there, I don't think my son's progress would have been this quick. So, I am also grateful to the DDCA and Vijay Dahiya sir," said Ram Niwas.
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