When Mayank Yadav made the 11 for Lucknow Super Giants, it was quite a shock as he was being preferred over some seasoned campaigners. But when he bowled the first over to J. Bairstow, a brute of a batsman, it was quite clear why Justin Langer preferred him. He bowled a ball that clocked 150 KMPH to Bairstow and then started his first over by bowling a 155.8 KMPH ball to Shikhar Dhawan. What has also impressed me about him was the control he has over line and length and the hard length that he bowls. He ended up getting Bairstow’s wicket in the second over. Let us know a bit more about the young speedster
Mayank Yadav Fast Bowler
Mayank Yadav was born in Delhi and was picked up in the auction by Lucknow Super Giants a couple of years ago. He had an unfortunate year the last time around when he was injured and missed the entire season but Justin Langer was very clear that he wanted to pick the youngster this time around along with the young West Indian sensation Shamar Joseph.
Mayank hasn’t played much domestic cricket and is a direct outcome of the IPL scouting system. However, he had a great Deodhar Trophy in the year 2023 when he was the second-highest wicket-taker, taking 12 wickets at an average of 17. India has produced quite a lot of quality fast bowlers in the last few years with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Umran Malik, and now Mayank bowling with good pace. Umran Malik touched the 157 KMPH mark a couple of years ago but has not quite made it to the top of the Indian team.
Do you think India might be thinking of fast-tracking him into the Indian setup for the T20 World Cup? Maybe he is a little too raw for that. In his first match, Lucknow Super Giants were up against it when the openers had gotten off to a flier when they pulled him out of nowhere as he picked up two quick wickets. It will be important for him to stay injury-free though in the long run, as he has a history of injuries, and we know how many fast bowlers have been lost to injuries. Hard yards in the NCA will be the key to his longevity.