Prince William Plays Tennis-Ball Cricket With Sourav Ganguly, Brian Lara and Joe Root Near Buckingham Palace

London’s iconic The Mall, typically reserved for grand royal processions, was transformed into an impromptu cricket ground yesterday, October 13, 2026, as Prince William enthusiastically participated in a friendly tennis-ball cricket match. The Prince of Wales joined a star-studded lineup of international cricketing greats, including former Indian captains Sourav Ganguly and Ajinkya Rahane, West Indies legend Brian Lara, and England captain Joe Root. The event, held just outside Buckingham Palace, served as a vibrant prelude to the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony, scheduled to take place in Mumbai next month, and underscored the deep cricketing ties between the UK and India. ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 Points Table Updated: India Remain in 5th Spot Despite Draw in IND vs SL 2nd Test 2026.

Prince William Plays Tennis-Ball Cricket With International Cricket

The match, which commenced around 11:30 AM BST, saw Prince William, 44, don a casual shirt and sweater as he took both bat and ball for an estimated ten minutes. The event was organised by Backyard Cricket UK, aiming to bring grassroots cricket to a grand stage while promoting the environmental cause championed by the Earthshot Prize.

Cricketing Stalwarts Gather

Among the distinguished players who shared the pitch with His Royal Highness were England's white-ball captain Harry Brook, 27, and England Women's all-rounders Nat Sciver-Brunt, 34, and Danni Wyatt Hodge, 35. The gathering created a unique blend of royalty and sporting excellence, drawing a crowd of onlookers and tourists keen to witness the unusual spectacle against the palatial backdrop.

Player Reactions to Prince William's Performance

Prince William's cricketing skills became a talking point among the professionals. West Indies legend Brian Lara, 57, offered a light-hearted assessment, stating that while the Prince underrates himself and is a big football fan, his batting showed promise. "His bowling needs a lot of work, but his batting? I'd put him as the number six or number seven batter, definitely in the starting 11," Lara quipped.

England Test captain Joe Root, 36, was equally impressed with the Prince's prowess with the willow. "His batting was pretty good to be fair, I think he's definitely a batter rather than a bowler, but he played some lovely shots," Root commented. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, 54, also noted, "He batted alright. He's better than me at the moment because I just picked up a cricket bat for the first time in eight or nine years." Hyderabad Weather Forecast and Rain Chances for India vs West Indies 4th T20I 2026.

The Earthshot Prize Connection

The informal match was strategically timed to generate buzz for the upcoming Earthshot Prize awards, which will be hosted in Mumbai, India, next month. Founded by Prince William in 2020, the annual global environmental award recognises and funds innovative solutions to repair and protect the planet, with five winners each receiving £1 million. The event also served as a celebration of the enduring cricketing legacy shared by Britain and India, two nations with a profound passion for the sport.

Former Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane, 38, who recently retired from all forms of cricket on July 30, 2026, shared his excitement in a LinkedIn post. "Cricket has taken me to some remarkable venues across the world, but playing tennis-ball cricket right on The Mall in London with Buckingham Palace in the backdrop is an experience that will stay with me for a long time," he wrote. The event successfully highlighted the unifying power of sport in advocating for critical global causes like environmental sustainability.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 14, 2026 03:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).