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Delhi-born Mayank Yadav became an overnight sensation last year as he clocked upwards of 150kmph consistently in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. However, Mayank's express pace was not up for a marathon and he got injured. On the back of his raw pace which turned several current and former cricketers' heads, he got to make his T20I debut. Since then, he has been out injured and there is no guaratnee that he will be playing in the IPL 2025. Several weeks ahead of the upcoming edition, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mentor Zaheer Khan is hoping Mayank gets a spring in his stride and revealed that he has been constant touch with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) about roadmap to recovery.
"We've had some interesting conversations around his roadmap to recovery and fitness with NCA, so we're working with them," Zaheer told reporters in Lucknow on February 4. "We hope for their support as well, them buying into the philosophy of really looking after a youngster, because he's not only important for LSG, he's important for Indian cricket as well."
Mayank was clocking over 145kmph but wasn't as fast as he was in IPL 2024. But LSG believed in his ability and retained him for a hefty amount of Rs 11 crore ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction. Zaheer is looking to nurture him and will play him only he is fully recovered.
"You know a bowler of his calibre, to be able to play consistently for the long term, that's where I'm trying to put in all my efforts and energy, in terms of giving him the best environment which will really help him play longer without really taking these breaks. I think that's really important and that's the outlook which we have," the former India left-arm pacer said.
"So as much as we are keen on having him [play IPL 2025], we want him 150% fit not just 100% fit so we'll do everything possible to get him there."
Langer hopeful Mayank regains fitness
LSG head coach Justin Langer echoed Zaheer's sentiments and pointed out that it is hard for a young pacer to hit the speeds Mayank does. He said that Mayank's body will take time to develop.
"We know how exciting he is, we watched that last year... Some of that pace last year was extreme pace, so we're very hopeful but he's a young fast bowler, and it doesn't matter what country you're from, it's a hard business being able to bowl that pace, and with a young body, it's going to take some time to develop. So we're hopeful and positive, but we'll wait and see how things progress over the next little piece," Langer said.
After letting go of KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant will lead LSG. Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history as LSG roped him in for a whopping Rs 27 crore.
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