Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) young fast bowler Mayank Yadav made an instant impression on his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut as he torched Punjab Kings (PBKS) batters with searing pace and venom. In the 11th match of the 2024 IPL season, the 21-year-old Mayank Yadav delivered a 155.8 kmph delivery that not only stunned the PBKS batters but also came as a fascinating surprise for cricket fans around the world who were watching the game.
In a spell that captivated the audience and left the onlookers spellbound, Mayank Yadav delivered 24 balls in his spell, and every delivery tested the speed gun. The most enthralling ball came when Mayank stunned Shikhar Dhawan with a 155.85 kmph howitzer.
In just his first match of the IPL career, Mayank Yadav became the fastest bowler of the 2024 season while he jumped to the number five spot in all-time fastest balls bowled in IPL history.
Fastest balls of the IPL 2024 season:
| Bowler | Speed (kmph) | Team |
| Mayank Yadav | 155.8 | Lucknow Super Giants |
| Mayank Yadav | 153.9 | Lucknow Super Giants |
| Mayank Yadav | 153.4 | Lucknow Super Giants |
| Nandre Burger | 153 | Rajasthan Royals |
| Gerald Coetzee | 152.3 | Mumbai Indians |
| Alzarri Joseph | 151.2 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Matheesha Pathirana | 150.9 | Chennai Super Kings |
Fastest balls in IPL history:
| Bowler | Speed (kmph) |
| Shaun Tait | 157.7 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 157.3 |
| Umran Malik | 157 |
| Anrich Nortje | 156.2 |
| Mayank Yadav | 155.8 |
A debut to remember
Mayank Yadav made veteran batters like Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow among others uncomfortable at the crease with his raw pace. In his eye-catching spell of four overs, the right-arm pacer conceded just 27 runs and picked up three wickets. For his match-winning spell that enabled LSG to register a 21-run victory, Mayank was awarded the Man of the Match award and during the presentation ceremony, the young pacer revealed the advice he received from captain Nicholas Pooran.
“I've always heard from others there's nervousness in debuts but that goes away after the first ball. Plan was to not be under too much pressure and to bowl at the stumps and use the pace as much as possible. There was the thought to mix up the pace initially but the wicket helped and the skipper told me to bowl gas. The debut wicket was the favourite. Coming off the injury last season was tough, I'd set my goal to debut at a young age but injuries were a setback,” Mayank said after the match.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Who is Mayank Yadav, who wreaked havoc with his tearaway speed to demolish PBKS and catapult LSG to first win in IPL 2024?
'That hurt us...': Shikhar Dhawan indirectly blames this player for Punjab Kings' defeat against LSG in their IPL 2024 clash
