When Mayank Yadav was introduced by Nicholas Pooran in the bowling attack, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) was running at a horse speed with 88/0 in nine overs. The fast ball he bowled was just over 147 kmph, and the second a touch under that mark, even though Johnny Bairstow carved it through point for a boundary. It didn’t take much time for the spectators to address Mayank as the peregrine falcon, world’s fastest bird in the sky.
For those who are not much associated with the domestic cricket, it was a new experience. At some point of his spell, the late great Tarak Singha would be smiling looking at Mayank. The 21-year-old was quietly bowling at Sonnet Club, the gurukul training club of the Cricket yogi.
Mayank Yadav: A kid with dreams, pace and potential
By the time he bowled his first ball of his IPL career, he was an unknown asset to the whole world, and to an extent to this country. Mayank plays for Delhi in the domestic circuit. By the time Lucknow signed him for the opening bid of INR 20 lakh, he was just 2 List-A games old.
Very unfortunately, during the warm up games in the last season, the speedster injured himself and was ruled out of the tournament. When he gained his fitness back, the North Zone fast-tracked him for the 50-over Deodhar Trophy where he him knocked out Rahul Tripathi’s middle stump with a rapid delivery during their fixture against Maharashtra.
In 17 List-A games by now, Mayank Yadav has picked up 34 wickets at an average of 21.55 and an economy of 5.35 with a best of 4/47. When it comes to his T20 stats, he has 12 wickets in 10 games at an average of 15.58 with an economy of 6.44. Anything under 7 with his speed is gold, given sometimes batters try to use the gas to collect the fruits.
Lucknow lost the services of Mark Wood at the beginning of the season due to his personal reasons. However, the best replacement with the added cushion of being an Indian is Mayank Yadav, who with pace also carried smartness in his bag.
When Krunal Pandya was asked before the start of the season about the ‘player to watch out for’ in the IPL 2024, the Baroda all-rounder hardly wasted any time before calling the name of Mayank Yadav.
IPL 2024, SRH vs MI: If you are a batter, come in Hyderabad and just hit a six
Mayank’s pace made the international batters uncomfortable
Getting discovered into the attack during the 10th over of the second innings, Mayank bowled his four successive overs to finish with 3/27 in his four overs at an economy of 6.80. Two of these three wickets are big international players.
Hardly any ball of his first over went under the speed of 140 kmph. The third ball of Mayank’s IPL career touch the 150-mark and cut Bairstow on the inside edge. Shikhar Dhawan, well set on 51, glanced the 148.6 kmph rocket at short fine leg for a four.
MAYANK YADAV SPEED ON DEBUT (KMPH):
147, 146, 150, 141, 147, 149, 156, 150, 142, 144, 153, 149, 152, 149, 147, 145, 140, 142, 153, 154, 149, 142, 152, 148.
– He is just 21 years old…!!!! 🤯💥 pic.twitter.com/CCPQWRobco
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 30, 2024
The craziness of bowling rapidly is runs can come at a faster speed. The smartness in case of Mayank was the mode and easiness in which he could change the pace and decrease it a bit to make it uncomfortable for the batters, who would be set for a few balls.
The first ball of Mayank Yadav’s second over clicked 155 kmph mark,, and he followed it with a 149 kmph bullet. Runs suddenly stopped flowing, and out of nowhere Bairstow was rushed on to his shot to find the deep mid-wicket fielder.
The first ball of his third over was fired at 152 kmph. Dhawan shuffled across and looked to flick it, only to mistime it for a single. Prabhsimran Singh whacked the second ball of the over for a six, but was again undone by the gas to get a top edge. Three balls of his last over crossed the 150 kmph mark. The fourth delivery went on to hurried Jitesh Sharma with bounce and flew after taking the top edge.
With a single of the last ball of his four successive overs spell, Mayank Yadav returned with those 3/27 figures. Done with the statement.
The rest of Mayank Yadav’s development belongs to LSG, DCA and BCCI
Can they keep his track? Well, they haven’t performed well in this aspect. Both BCCI and DCA. All those years back, he was ignored at the first trials by the visionary selectors as the great author, Vijay Lokapally tweeted back in December 2022.
Next big player from Delhi
Mayank Yadav
Bowls quick
Greedy for success
Like Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant….. ignored at first trials by the ‘visionary’ @delhi_cricket selectors
Watch out for him 👍— Vijay Lokapally 🇮🇳 (@vijaylokapally) March 30, 2022
The only issue of the whole world, and specially Indian cricket would be how he keeps on going at the same pace games after games. It’s not easy. And it’s the job of both the management of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) during the IPL and even in the off season along with the Delhi Cricket Association (DCA) to look after him physically and mentally. No one wants to put Mayank Yadav in the same track of Umran Malik.
When it comes to BCCI, their handling of a player, and especially a fast bowler hasn’t been a smooth one. In Malik’s case, it was also the franchise, and the world hopes Mayank Yadav goes on to learn a lot from Morne Morkel in the LSG coaching management, and gets better treatment.
If handled better with more exposure of red-ball cricket, India can think of going to South Africa and Australia without any concern of their fast-bowling resources. One can learn the other how to swing or seam the ball, but not how to ball fast. It’s a natural one. But it’s also vital to transform natural power into super ability.
The first game of any player provides the platform to rise. The fight begins from the second affair, and the Mayank Yadav will be up for the challenger.
Author: That mAd wrIter
Someone who loves how Steve Smith from being Australia's future Shane Warne has become present Don Bradman, gets inspired by Anderson's longevity, gets awed with Kohli's drive and Southee's bowling action. Never gets excited with stats and records, and believes in instincts, and always questions spinners bowling with the new ball.
