Prince Yadav Joins Unwanted List After First Wicket Comes Off No-Ball

Making an international debut is a dream moment for any young cricketer, and taking a first wicket in that moment is even more special. However, cricket can be a cruel game sometimes, as several bowlers have seen their maiden international wickets erased because of a no-ball.

India's young fast bowler Prince Yadav became the latest name on that unfortunate list during the IND vs AFG 2nd ODI in Lucknow. With Prince Yadav no ball wicket, he became one of the very few cricketers who have achieved this unwanted feat.

Prince Yadav Joins Unwanted List After Lucknow Heartbreak

Prince Yadav's ODI debut was one of the major talking points of India's second match against Afghanistan. The right-arm pacer, who earned his maiden India cap following strong performances for Lucknow Super Giants and in domestic cricket, was introduced early into the attack by the stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer during the second innings.

After conceding runs in his opening spell, Yadav found a breakthrough when Rahmanullah Gurbaz miscued a lofted shot and was caught comfortably in the infield. The 30-year-old immediately celebrated what appeared to be his first ODI wicket, with teammates gathering around him.

However, the joy lasted only a few seconds. Replays showed that Yadav, one of the best bowlers in IPL this year, had overstepped, prompting the umpire to signal a no-ball and overturn the dismissal. As a result, Prince Yadav first international wicket turned out to be a no-ball. Gurbaz received a lifeline, while the debutant was left visibly stunned.

Players Whose First International Wicket Was a No Ball

Prince Yadav is not the first bowler to experience such heartbreak. Earlier in 2024, Indian pacer Akash Deep thought he had claimed England opener Zak Crawley during his Test debut in Ranchi. The delivery shattered the stumps, but celebrations were cut short after officials confirmed a front-foot no-ball.

England's Tom Curran had a similar moment during the Ashes when David Warner was caught on 99, only for replays to reveal an overstep. Ben Stokes also missed out on what would have been his maiden Test wicket after Brad Haddin's dismissal was overturned because of a no-ball.

Perhaps the most famous example came in 2004 when Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga, one of the best T20 bowlers of all time, appeared to dismiss Australia's Darren Lehmann for his first Test wicket. The wicket was eventually ruled out due to a no-ball, delaying a milestone in a career that later produced more than 500 international wickets.