Big update on LSG's star pacer: Mayank Yadav set to miss almost half of IPL 2025 league stage matches, set to join on this date

Big update on LSG's star pacer: Mayank Yadav set to miss almost half of IPL 2025 league stage matches, set to join on this date
Lucknow Super Giants' Mayank Yadav warms up during a practice session on the eve of their Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on April 1, 2024.

Highlights:

Mayank Yadav is the most expensive pacer in LSG side.

Mayank is likely to be available for the match against CSK.

Mayank hasn't bowled in competitive cricket since his T20I debut series.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have suffered a major blow less than a week ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Sports Tak has learnt that their speed sensation Mayank Yadav is set to miss five to six matches at the league stages. 

LSG are hopeful as they are awaiting clearance for Mayank from the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He is expected to join the squad from April 11-12. 

"Mayank is doing well in the nets. He has started bowling and is giving good signs of match readiness. The only thing awaited is the green signal from Centre of Excellence. We are very hopeful that he will be with us soon," the source said. 

 

 

Mayank was one of the retentions for LSG. He was retained for Rs 11 crore as he played in the three-T20I series against Bangladesh at home before a side strain ruled him out of auction. 

Matches Mayank will miss and his return to playing XI

The Rishabh Pant-led LSG are set to start their season against Delhi Capitals (DC) on March 24 in Visakhapatnam. Mayank is likely to miss their matches against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Punjab Kings (PBKS), Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). It is not clear whether he will play the home match against Gujarat Titans (GT) on April 12. However, he is likely to be in the playing XI for the important clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at home on April 14. 

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Big headache for LSG

Meanwhile, LSG are also awaiting confirmations on pacers Avesh Khan and Mohsin Khan. Pant's fast-bowling stocks are depleted and that is the reason why unsold bowlers in the auction, Shardul Thakur and Shivam Mavi were seen bowling in LSG nets.

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Currently, two established fast bowlers LSG have are West Indies' Shamar Joseph and Akash Deep. With Mitchell Marsh not being able to bowl, LSG have a selection headache. It will be interesting to see whether they will rely on lesser-known players to bolster the fast-bowling attack. 

In home matches, they are likely to go with spin-heavy attack which includes Ravi Bishnoi, Shahbaz Ahmed and Manimaran Siddharth. Aiden Markram is a batter who can make use of spin-friendly conditions as well.