Prince William joined Sourav Ganguly, Brian Lara, James Anderson, Joe Root, and Ajinkya Rahane for a friendly game outside Buckingham Palace in London on Tuesday. The event brought traffic to a standstill as the Prince of Wales took part in the match ahead of next month's Earthshot Prize ceremony in Mumbai.
Organized by YouTube creators, the Backyard Cricket Boys, the event celebrated the cultural ties between Britain and India through their shared love of cricket. William played for around 10 minutes, hit a six off Sourav Ganguly, and tried his hand at bowling before meeting fans, shaking hands and taking selfies.
Prince William Promotes Earthshot Prize Ahead Of Mumbai Ceremony
Founded by Prince William in 2020, the Earthshot Prize supports innovative solutions to environmental challenges. Each year, five winners receive £1 million to develop their projects. This year's ceremony in Mumbai is expected to be the biggest yet, with 15 finalists competing across five categories.
India was chosen to host the ceremony because it has produced more Earthshot Prize winners and finalists than any other country. The Princess of Wales is also expected to accompany her husband on the visit after missing recent editions due to family commitments and health challenges.
William arrived from the gates of nearby St. James's Palace before joining the players on The Mall, a famous London thoroughfare known for royal events and state occasions. During the engagement, he also received a personalised cricket shirt for his daughter, Princess Charlotte, who plays for a team at her school.
Speaking to fans after the match, William praised former India captain Sourav Ganguly, saying, "Sourav Ganguly is one of the finest cricketers."
Celebrating Mumbai hosting The Earthshot Prize with a game of cricket on The Mall. 🏏🌍 https://t.co/VpDl3eeiMC
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 13, 2026
Prince William playing Earthshot Prize ‘Cricket on The Mall’ outside Buckingham Palace with Sourav Ganguly, Brian Lara, Joe Root and Harry Brook https://t.co/TwaEibZbLY
— Matt Wilkinson (@MattSunRoyal) October 13, 2026
Prince William talk about cricket legend...... https://t.co/gd9LrQ1A3n
— Janelle Russo (@Janelle_12R) October 14, 2026
Joe Root And Brian Lara Praise Prince William's Batting
England batter Joe Root enjoyed the unusual setting and highlighted the palace backdrop. Root also assessed William's performance, suggesting that the prince was more suited to batting than bowling.
“There are some wonderful backdrops in cricket, but none quite like Buckingham Palace,” Root said.
“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 added. "There’s a lot to work with there."
West Indies legend Brian Lara also praised William's batting and suggested that he could earn a place in a competitive side.
“He underrates himself, he’s a big football fan, he said he doesn’t know much about cricket," Lara remarked.
"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,” the former West Indies captain added.
Sourav Ganguly Prepares For Delhi Capitals' IPL 2027 Campaign
Sourav Ganguly is preparing for a new role in the Indian Premier League. The former India captain was recently appointed head coach of Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2027 season, replacing Hemang Badani after the franchise failed to reach the playoffs in the past two seasons.
Sourav Ganguly's association with the Capitals began in 2019, when he joined as an advisor. He later served as Director of Cricket for both the men's and women's teams and coached the franchise's SA20 side, Pretoria Capitals, last year.
Sourav Ganguly will now lead the Delhi franchise's preparations for the upcoming IPL season. Delhi Capitals are jointly owned by the GMR and JSW groups, which manage the franchise in a biennial cycle. GMR's latest tenure ended in 2026.
Ganguly will also reunite with former Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant, who has returned to the franchise following a high-profile trade with Lucknow Super Giants. The deal sent wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the opposite direction ahead of the 2027 season.
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