Lucknow: After a sensational IPL debut in 2024, where he won back-to-back Player of the Match awards in his first two matches, Mayank Yadav was expected to be on fire once again when he returned to action in the second season in 2025 following an injury break.
But the pacer was ruled out for the entire season due to a recurring injury, and Lucknow Super Giants signed William O’Rourke as his replacement for the remainder of the season.
Now, Mayank’s third IPL season for LSG brings a wave of new hope. Given his present form the Delhi pacer is gearing up for an injury-free season under bowling coach Bharat Arun’s sharp eye.
Before bowling at a speed of 150 kmph during a practice match against Kashi Rudras, an UPTO20 League side, on Thursday, at the Sports Galaxy Ground here, he was quite impressive in two different training sessions in Lucknow.
Mayank’s speed has impressed his teammates and fans, including skipper Rishabh Pant, who called him “scary,” “fiery,” “amazing fast,” and even a “bowling missile” on social media accounts, posting short videos. All these admirations have added extra responsibility on the bowler, who is expected to touch his old mark of 156.7 kmph this season.
In fact, Mayank exploded onto the IPL scene in 2024, clocking 156.7 kmph—the season’s fastest ball—against Punjab Kings. His four-wicket haul earned him the Player of the Match award, leaving Mitchell Marsh and Shikhar Dhawan hopping. Just 21 then, the slingy action and raw speed evoked memories of legendary quicks, drawing instant India T20I call-ups.
But glory proved fleeting. A lower abdominal strain sidelined him after four matches in 2024, followed by a lumbar stress fracture in 2025 that limited him to two games. Hamstring tears, toe infections, and back surgery in New Zealand compounded his woes, erasing a full domestic season. Despite this, LSG retained him for ₹11 crore pre-auction, betting on his X-factor.
At Bengaluru’s BCCI Centre of Excellence, Mayank achieved 90 percent bowling fitness by early 2026, managing 18 overs weekly with boosted strength. Gradual workload hikes avoided past pitfalls, blending rehab with high-intensity fielding drills. Now at LSG’s Ekana camp, he is sharp and quick in the nets, his rhythm intact, and his pace teasing 150kph-plus. “The body adapts in time,” he noted post-2025 return.
