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Pace sensation Mayank Yadav has been out of the action for more than six months. There was a question mark over whether the injury prone bowled will be retained by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) despite a hefty price tag of Rs 11 crore but the franchise put their faith in him. The 23-year-old, who is currently doing his rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, says he will be ready to play for LSG from ball one.
“My recovery is going pretty well. I have started bowling and everything is on track right now," the young Delhi-born pacer told News18.
“I have worked a lot on my fitness. In the upcoming season, I’ll be available for the team from day one and hope to contribute to the team’s cause, right from the word go," he added.
In IPL 2024, Mayank showed signs of brilliance, clocking breakneck speeds before he got injured. His seven wickets came at an average of 12.14. He was fastracked to the Indian team and made his T20I debut against Bangladesh before getting sidelined again. Retained for a big amount before mega auction, he played just two games before getting injured again. The young pacer expressed how LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka gave him confidence.
“Absolutely. It is a huge thing for me and I am thankful that despite all the setbacks due to injuries in the past 2-3 seasons, LSG is still backing me. The team, the owner, has been with me always, both on and off the field," he revealed.
“In fact, the owner, Dr Sanjiv Goenka, gave me confidence that he’s there whenever I need it or whatever I need in my life," he continued.
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Mayank on bowling alongside Shami
In addition to Mayank, LSG have roped in veteran pacer Mohammed Shami via trade from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for Rs 10 crore. He is excited to share the new ball with Shami.
“Shami Bhai was with me in rehab at the National Cricket Academy. I have known him for the last one and a half years. It will be very exciting for me to share ends with him," Yadav said.
Mayank wants games before IPL 2026
Mayank is likely to be seen in action soon. Before the IPL 2026, he intends to play a few games. The upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) can be the perfect warm-up for him but it is yet to be seen whether he plays the premier domestic T20 tournament.
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