There are concerns surrounding Mayank Yadav's fitness and the management decisions of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The young fast bowler, known for his tearaway pace, has been battling an abdominal strain. This injury could jeopardise his chances of making the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup later this year. Despite the injury, Yadav was rushed back into the playing XI against the Mumbai Indians. He bowled comfortably for his first three overs, raising hopes of a strong comeback. However, this optimism was short-lived as Yadav was forced to leave the field mid-innings due to a suspected recurrence of the abdominal pain. This incident highlights Yadav's struggles with injuries this season. After dominating his first two matches with Player of the Match performances against Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, he hasn't been able to complete a full game since.
Mayank Yadav's injury woes
Mayank Yadav's injury woes continued to plague him throughout the IPL season. Initially showcasing his talent, he picked up 3 wickets each in his first two matches. However, his third outing against the Gujarat Titans on April 7 came to a premature end. He reported abdominal pain and right hip tightness, forcing him off the field after bowling just one over. Following scans and a recovery program, Mayank made a comeback against the Mumbai Indians. While he managed to bowl 3.1 overs and pick up a wicket, his struggles weren't over. He left the field again, this time leaking 31 runs. Head coach Justin Langer confirmed a recurrence of the abdominal soreness and revealed the need for further scans to determine the exact extent of the injury.
"Looks like he is sore in the same spot. His rehab has been perfect, he bowled pain-free in the last week and looked in great condition," coach Langer told reporters.
Mohammad Kaif slams LSG for playing injured Mayank Yadav
Former India's star cricketer Mohammad Kaif was furious with the LSG's team management for rushing Mayank Yadav back into action. Following the match, Kaif took to his social media platform and blasted the LSG coaches and captain for their recklessness with Mayank's injury.
In a video post on X, Kaif called Mayank and urged the LSG management to prioritise his health. He expressed serious concern that if not handled carefully, Mayank's injury could have long-term consequences, potentially jeopardizing not only his career but also his well-being. Kaif slammed head coach Justin Langer and captain KL Rahul, accusing them of prioritizing short-term gains - securing two points in the IPL - over the long-term health of a young player at the beginning of his career. Kaif concluded his message with a plea to the LSG team to prioritise Mayank's health and manage his injury with utmost caution.
"See, this is a request from my side, Mayank Yadav is a national treasure, if he is not fully fit then please don't force him to play. I thought he was being forced (to play). He bowled and then went out of the ground, this has happened a couple of times now. I request with folded hands that, he is the kind of a fast bowler who in case gets injured, might even end up having a life-threatening injury if you constantly push him to play and he is not unable to gain full fitness," Kaif said in a vide that he posted on X.
“I can understand that it's a pressure-filled tournament, you want your team to play, win, and grab 2 points, it is IPL - the biggest tournament in the world but please don't play with anyone's life. It can become a career-threatening injury. You are pushing him to play again and again. He was not fully fit, it was wrong whatever happened, Lucknow forced him to play, and he is injured, give him proper time to recover, this is a special request from my side to the Lucknow team. Please," he concluded.
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