“He wasn’t trying to reach 150-160 kph” – Aakash Chopra lauds Mayank Yadav’s spell in IND vs BAN 2024 1st T20I

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra lauded Mayank Yadav for his impressive spell against Bangladesh at the New Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, Gwalior on Sunday, which India won by seven wickets. Yadav, who was making his T20I debut, bowled a maiden over to start his career.

The gun fast bowler became only the third Indian seamer to bowl a maiden over, which was also his first over, after Ajit Agarkar and Arshdeep Singh.

Yadav returned with impressive figures of 1-21 in his quota of four overs and accounted for veteran batter Mahmudullah. The fast bowler from Delhi bowled in the right areas and Chopra lauded him for not trying to reach 150-160 kmph.

“Two players made their debut – Nitish Kumar Reddy and Mayank Yadav. Mayank Yadav bowled his first over as a maiden – Mayank ‘Gatimaan’ Yadav. He hadn’t played cricket for four months. He was coming back after an injury. There were a few butterflies in his stomach. There was a little nervous energy as well,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“However, he started well and tried to bowl in straight lines. He wasn’t trying to reach 150-160 kph because there was a little more focus on the body – ‘Let’s not push myself because I am coming back after an injury’. However, there is no doubt that this bowler has pace,” the former India opener elaborated.

The renowned commentator added that Mayank has all the qualities to succeed at the top level.

“He bowled at a good pace and showed that he has got the ingredients. You are seeing the ingredients as of now with which an excellent dish can be prepared. However, that will take some time and the Indian team will give him time, that’s what I feel,” he observed.

With Nitish Kumar Reddy and Mayank Yadav making their T20I debuts, Chopra reckons Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants will not be happy as the duo are now not uncapped players.

“He bowled at a good pace and showed that he has got the ingredients. You are seeing the ingredients as of now with which an excellent dish can be prepared. However, that will take some time and the Indian team will give him time, that’s what I feel,” he observed.

“You want them to play, of course, but now both these players are not uncapped. They used to be uncapped and could have been retained for four crores apiece, and both teams were going to retain them. Now both will have to be released and the RTM will have to be used for them because they are neither worth 18 crores nor 14 crores, and their names might not come in the first three players,” Chopra said.

The second match of the series between India and Bangladesh will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Wednesday.