India's tearaway pacer Mayank Yadav made a memorable debut in international cricket in the first T20I against Bangladesh in Gwalior. The young pacer's electrifying pace, reaching speeds of around 150 km/h, immediately caught the attention of fans and experts alike. Bangladesh batters had no answer to Mayank Yadav's sheer speed and bounce. However, what truly set him apart was his ability to maintain control over his lengths. Despite consistently bowling short, Yadav didn't let the opposition score runs.
Mayank Yadav's promising debut
Yadav turned everyone's heads by bowling a maiden in his very first over, followed by a crucial breakthrough, dismissing the experienced Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah. Bangladesh batters found it difficult to tackle Yadav's sheer pace. Despite the star speedster's impressive performance, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto isn't ready to see him as any threat ahead of the second T20I against India. He stated that his batters regularly practice against fast bowlers of similar caliber to Yadav in the nets, preparing them for such challenges.
Najmul Hossain Shanto shrugs off Mayank Yadav threat
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto dismisses concerns over facing Indian fast bowler Mayank Yadav, claiming his team is well-prepared to handle high-speed deliveries.
Shanto, after Bangladesh's seven-wicket defeat against India, said:
“We have some similar fast bowlers in the nets. I don’t think we were too worried about Mayank Yadav. But he is a good bowler,” he said at the post-match press conference.
“We have the ability, but we have room for improvement in our skills. We have been batting in this way for the last 10 years. Sometimes we do well. We have to make some changes, perhaps where we practice back home,” he added.
In his four overs, Mayank only gave away 21 runs while also claiming a wicket. He had previously made headlines during IPL 2024, where he consistently bowled at speeds of 150 km/h for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Unfortunately, a side strain sidelined him for the last season. After a lengthy recovery process, Mayank returned to competitive cricket in Gwalior after five months, working closely with the BCCI’s medical team at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) throughout his rehabilitation.
