Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) registered a 12-run win against Mumbai Indians (MI) at home. After fifties from Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram, LSG pacers did well to defend the total of 203 against an out-of-form MI side. In the post-match presentation, LSG head coach Justin Langer revealed that they are about to get a huge boost as star pacer Mayank Yadav is 'bowling at 90 to 95 per cent'.
"What I do know is he's working very hard at the NCA, and I saw some video of him bowling yesterday [Thursday] and he was bowling at about 90 to 95%," Langer said at the press conference.
"So Mayank's up and running, which is really great for Indian cricket, for IPL. We saw the impact he had last year. I don't think there's been a bowler in India who's bowled faster than Mayank Yadav. That's why there's so much talk about him."
Langer credited Centre of Excellence (formerly NCA) in Bengaluru to help in rehabilitation of their injured pacers. LSG had a depleted bowling attack at the start with four of their pacers injured. While Shardul Thakur replaced Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan and Akash Deep are playing for LSG.
"He's up, he's keen to get going. He bowled really well in Bangalore yesterday at the NCA. I think you have another couple of bowls and hopefully... NCA, to their credit, have obviously done a very good job because they've got Avesh Khan back for us, they've got our Akash Deep back for us. So we really appreciate the work they're doing to get the boys back playing and now hopefully Mayank as well," said the former Australian opener.
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Akash Deep on LSG debut
On April 4, Deep made his LSG debut. He dismissed MI opener Will Jacks in his first over. However, he took a beating from Naman Dhir who hit him for two fours and as many sixes in an over. He bowled his quota of four overs and conceded 46 runs.
LSG's next game
Meanwhile, it is not clear when Mayank will be able to join the LSG camp. The Rishabh Pant-led side's next clash is against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens on April 8.