The last time Mayank Yadav took the field against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), he rattled their batters. Australian all-rounders Cameron Green and Glenn Maxwell who are used to pace, struggled against Mayank who often bowled over 150kmph. A year later, Mayank is not at his fastest self. His pace has dropped and he understands there is a need to give himself time, considering he was out of action for months due to injury.
"This is normal. I had a major injury because of which I was out of cricket for five to six months. The body will adapt and take its own time. I will have to give some time to my body and my bowling to get those speeds back. There have been no changes in my bowling technique," Mayank said on the eve of the match against Rajat Patidar's RCB at Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
Mayank has played just two IPL games since his return. In the first game, he got rid of Mumbai Indians (MI) opener Rohit Sharma with a slower ball. He also dismissed MI captain Hardik Pandya and conceded 40 runs from his quota of four overs. In the following match, he was taken to the cleaners by Punjab Kings (PBKS) batters in Dharamsala. He ended up conceding 60 runs, including three consecutive sixes off Josh Inglis' bat.
Mayank said that his body is taking a little time. He admitted that there is a need for him to read the baters and the pitch quicker than he has in the previous games.
"There is no drastic change in my strategy. I will continue to do what I used to. My body is taking a little time. I have not seen the intensity, [and] the match pressure for a while now. So it is very normal that the body is responding a little differently after a major injury. I don't have a different mindset or intent. That remains the same. But I need to read the wickets and the batsmen quicker," the 22-year-old said.
Mayank on his variations
Mayank, who clicked 156.7 kmph last year, relied on a slower ball to dismiss Rohit. The Delhi pacer said that he had the slower ball in his arsenal but the demand from him last time was to bowl fast.
"I have been doing this right from the start, the variations, the slower ones. I didn't need it last season. The few matches that I played in the main demand was to bowl quick and hard length deliveries. This time the wickets, wherever I have played using variations have been important," he said.
"My mindset is to contribute as much as possible for the team. In the last match, my spell was a bit expensive. Whenever I bowl, the team should feel that I am a strike bowler and a wicket-taking bowler. I just try to be positive for my team."
The clash against RCB is a must-win for LSG. Currently, they sit at the seventh position with five wins from 11 games. They need to win three in a row to have a chance of qualifying for the playoffs.