Mayank Yadav. (Source: ANI)
In the aftermath of the thrilling victory against the Gujarat Titans in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), Colonel Vinod Bisht, the CEO of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), addressed concerns regarding the injury sustained by their promising pacer, Mayank Yadav. Mayank’s performance had been eagerly awaited by fans, who had been impressed by his consistent pace, precision, and skill. However, during the clash with the Gujarat Titans, Mayank seemed off-color, struggling to maintain his usual speed of around 150 kmph and conceding three boundaries. After delivering just one over, Mayank left the field, citing soreness in his lower abdominal area.
“As a precautionary measure, we will be managing Mayank’s workload over the next week. We hope for his swift return to the field,” stated Vinod Bisht in an official announcement.
Despite his injury setback, Mayank Yadav had quickly risen to prominence in the IPL. In the match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), he showcased his prowess by taking three wickets while giving away only 14 runs in his four-over spell, earning him the prestigious ‘Player of the Match’ award. This remarkable feat marked him as the first bowler in IPL history to achieve this accolade in his first two matches.
Mayank’s extraordinary talent was further underscored by his impressive speed, clocking in at 156.7 kmph against RCB, the fastest delivery of the ongoing season and the fourth fastest in IPL history. This surpassed his previous record of 155.8 kmph, set during his debut match against the Punjab Kings, where he also exhibited his bowling prowess by claiming three wickets for 27 runs in four overs.
It wasn’t just Mayank’s raw pace that captivated audiences; it was also his remarkable control over line and length, coupled with his intimidating presence on the field. His back-to-back three-wicket hauls in his initial two matches propelled him into an exclusive club of players. Mayank Yadav joined the ranks of legendary bowlers such as Lasith Malinga, Amit Singh, Mayank Markande, and Jofra Archer, all of whom had also achieved this feat in their debut IPL outings.
With such a promising start to his IPL career, Mayank Yadav’s emergence as the next big Indian pace prospect seems inevitable, provided he can overcome his current injury setback and continue his stellar performances on the field.