Mayank Yadav, the 22-year-old right-arm fast bowler who plays for Lucknow Super Giants, was one of IPL’s most impressive performers in 2024. His breakneck speed and seven wickets in four games made him stand out. However, his season abruptly ended due to injury raising doubts about whether he will be available for competitive cricket again.
However, doubts have been raise about Yadav’s availability during the December Border-Gavaskar Test series according to BCCI secretary Jay Shah. While at NCA (National Cricket Academy) as he recuperates from his injury, former India bowling coach. Paras Mhambrey has been advising that Mayank Yadav needs to be eased back into the team focusing on first-class cricket in particular.
Yadav’s searing pace was evident throughout this year’s IPL campaign. Where he consistently clocked over 150 kmph and delivered the fourth quickest ball ever recorded in IPL history at 156.7 kmph. Nevertheless, an injury kept him out after just four matches where he got seven wickets. “I cannot give you any answer on Mayank Yadav as there is no guarantee whether he will be in the team or not. But he is potentially a good fast bowler, and we are looking after him. He is currently at the NCA,” Shah told The Times of India last week.
There have been concerns around his injuries which have sparked talks about what lies ahead and how best to aid recovery. Former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey suggests a gradual reintegration into competitive cricket particularly through longer forms of it. For a young pacer like Yadav though, being overly cautious by keeping him out may not be the best approach according to Mhambrey.
“I don’t agree that if he is not ready just don’t play him.” This is the age when you have to bowl yourself out. ”A bowler should bowl, the more you bowl, the more you will have control. You will know your threshold as to how much your body can take. You can’t wrap him up in cotton wool saying he will get injured,” Mhambrey told Parami News.
Mhambrey reckons Yadav’s development and injury management would be improve by playing red-ball cricket. For an individual’s physical limits and getting a view on the whole experience necessary for growth and maturation in first class cricket. It is vital to engage oneself in such disciplines.
“We cannot overbowl and burn him out but we need to be smart about how many overs he bowls.” “He must play first-class cricket if he wants to become a fast bowler” said Mhambrey.
Crucially, it was important to examine Yadav’s background and training routines in order to better manage his fitness levels and workload. “You have to check his background. How much cricket has he played? How much has he bowled? Everything adds up. We need to go in depth about him, what have been his training methods? How many overs he used to bowl, his history of injuries,” Mhambrey noted.
Also worth considering is that Yadav is still developing as a player so proactive management of his workload and fitness is important according to Mhambrey.
“He’s only 22. Still developing, his body is also in that age group where it is susceptible to injuries. His body has not completely developed yet. However, we can manage his injuries if we understand his background well.”
As the BCCI discusses what will be best for Mayank Yadav, fans and selectors alike eagerly await the young paceman’s return to full fitness. In the IPL he has shown sparks of his potential but dealing with his recovery properly could count heavily towards. How well he does in Indian cricket going forward.
