Mayank Yadav, the pace bowler for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), is taking his return to cricket after a lengthy injury setback in stride. Acknowledging the dip in his bowling speeds, Mayank is focusing on giving his body time to recover to its previous form. Last year, Mayank impressed with speeds of over 150 km/h, but this season has seen him mostly hovering in the 130 km/h range since his return.
“This is normal,” Mayank stated before LSG’s crucial match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Lucknow on Friday. “I had a major injury, and was out of cricket for five to six months. My body will need time to adapt, but I’m confident that my speeds will return. There have been no changes in my bowling technique.”
The 22-year-old, retained by LSG before the IPL 2025 auction, made his debut for India against Bangladesh last October. However, injuries, including a back injury and a subsequent toe injury, kept him out of action for much of the domestic 2024-25 season.
Mayank explained his current strategies: “There is no drastic change in my strategy. I will keep doing what I used to. I need to read the wickets and batsmen faster. The body’s reaction is simply different after such a break. Nonetheless, my intent remains unchanged.”
He admitted his performances in the two matches since his return have been mixed, taking 2 for 40 against Mumbai Indians but going for 0 for 60 against Punjab Kings. Nevertheless, Mayank emphasised that his variety of slower deliveries is a planned adaptation. Despite the slow start, Mayank aims to be LSG’s “strike bowler” and a “wicket-taking bowler.”
“I have been employing variations and slower balls from the start,” he mentioned. “They were not needed last season with the primary demand being to deliver fast, hard-length balls. Now, reading the situation and using these variations is crucial.”
Anil Kumble praised Mayank’s use of variations against Mumbai Indians, stating that such adaptability is vital in competitive cricket.
Mayank acknowledged that LSG have made errors in the tournament, resulting in a must-win scenario against RCB. Adding to their challenges, captain Rishabh Pant has had a tough season, accumulating only 128 runs in 11 innings.
Mayank concluded, “My focus is to contribute positively to the team. Yes, the last match was expensive for me, but I aim to be the strike bowler. The team should have confidence in my ability to take wickets.”
