Two young guns blazed onto the scene for the Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL 2024 clash against the Punjab Kings, Mayank Yadav and Manimaran Siddharth. While Siddharth couldn't make a mark for himself, Mayank unleashed a fiery spell that rattled the likes of Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow. His scorching deliveries, clocking speeds of 156 kmph, surprised even the seasoned batter like Dhawan, and the Punjab's batting order crumbled under his pace, completely shifting the momentum of the match for LSG. It was Mayank Yadav's spell which helped LSG thrash PBKS by 21 runs on March 30 at Lucknow's Ekana's stadium.
Mayank, turning the Tide with tearaway pace
Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow gave PBKS a cracking start and made LSG bowlers work hard to grab their wickets. But LSG's stand-in captain Nicholas Pooran found an opportunity to launch the debutant Mayank in the the 10th over. Mayank didn't disappoint and right from his first delivery made his intentions clear by clocking 147 kmph. He steadily ramped up the pace, unleashing a thunderbolt at 150 km/h on his third ball. The very next over, he went a step further, bowling his very first delivery to Dhawan at a jaw-dropping 156 km/h. The sheer speed left Dhawan clueless, unable to even get a touch on the ball as it rocketed past. This sensational delivery not only secured Lucknow's first wicket but also swung the momentum of the match decisively in their favor.
Mayank's Mayhem: From 156 kph to fiery three-wicket spell
The searing 156 kph delivery wasn't just a highlight reel moment for Mayank Yadav. It was the spark that ignited his fiery debut spell. He wasted no time and grabbed PBKS star batter Jonny Bairstow. Bairstow, despite his aggressive knock of 42 (29 balls, 3 fours, 3 sixes), found himself at the wrong end of Mayank's debut wicket, giving Lucknow their first breakthrough at 102 runs. Mayank wasn't done there. He followed up with a display of controlled aggression, using well-directed bouncers to dismiss both Prabhsimran Singh (19) and Jitesh Sharma (6). By the end of his four-over spell, Mayank had not only announced his arrival with a bang but also crippled the Punjab batting order, claiming remarkable three wickets for just 27 runs in his four-over spell.
Who is Mayank Yadav?
Mayank Yadav made a name for himself in the domestic cricket scene, playing for Delhi. He started his journey in the shortest format, T20s, making his debut against Manipur in October 2022. Just two months later, he stepped onto the field for his first List A match, representing Delhi against Haryana in December 2022. Yadav shown early promise across both formats. In T20s, he's already picked up 12 wickets in 10 matches. His bowling has been economical too, with an average of just 15.58 runs conceded and an economy rate of 6.44. As far as his Mayank's List A performance is concerned, his impact has been even more significant. He's been a wicket-taking machine, grabbing 34 scalps in just 17 games. This translates to an impressive average of two wickets per match. He recorded an economy rate of 5.35 in List A cricket, making it difficult for batsmen to score freely. His ability to strike quickly is another strong point. He snared a couple of four-wicket hauls, highlighting his knack for picking up wickets in clusters.
Mayank's Gambhir connection
Hailing from the same city as Gautam Gambhir, Mayank Yadav represents Delhi in domestic cricket. Gambhir was key in scouting Mayank for the IPL team in 2023. Unfortunately, an injury forced Mayank to miss the last IPL season. Despite Gambhir's move to KKR, his legacy lives on in the form of Mayank's talent. Lucknow retained him for a base price of 20 lakhs in IPL 2024 auction, and cut to March 30, Mayank proved his worth and bowling prowess with a blistering spell against PBKS which helped LSG record their first win in the IPL 2024.
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