IPL 2024: Enjoying seeing him bowl from 20 yards behind the stumps, that’s where I’d like to be when he’s bowling – KL Rahul on Mayank Yadav

Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul is happy to be in the wicket-keeper position and not bat against rookie pacer Mayank Yadav. The 21-year-old from Delhi has grabbed headlines for his extra pace and he has been the cynosure of all eyes in IPL 2024.

After picking up three wickets in his debut IPL match against Punjab Kings, Yadav breathed down the neck of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s batters at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Yadav hurried Maxwell with a 151 kmph delivery and then rattled Cameron Green’s stumps with a 146.2 kmph ball. The right-arm pacer also bounced out Rajat Patidar with a sharp bumper. Yadav returned with impressive figures of 3-14 in his quota of four overs to bag back-to-back Player of the Match award.

Once again, Yadav bowled at lightning speed but more importantly he was right on the money in his spell.

KL Rahul showered praise on the youngster after he played a key role in the team’s 28-run win against RCB.

Rahul said in the post-match presentation, “One ball hit me really hard, so happy to see Mayank bowl the way he’s been bowling in the last couple of games. He’s quietly patiently waited for two seasons in the dug-out, missed out last year because of injury unfortunately. But he’s been in Bombay with the physios working really hard. He understands that bowling 155 is not easy and in a young age, he’s had a few injuries. He’s really professional in looking after his body, it’s really good to see and has a great temperament. Enjoying seeing him bowl from probably 20 yards behind the stumps, that’s where I’d like to be when he’s bowling.”

Rahul was pleased with the collective performance and lauded Quinton de Kock for giving a fine start to the team. The left-hander scored 81 runs off 56 balls with the help of eight fours and five sixes and also completed 3000 runs in the IPL.

Rahul added, “Overall a really good performance. The wicket was a bit tricky, there was some help for the seamers, it was slightly on the sticky side. We got off to a really good start, Quinton gave us a really good start. By the time the opposition found out what were the lengths to hit, we had gotten away with the game and had probably 10-15 runs ahead of what we needed to be. That’s what helped us in the back end though they bowled really well in the back end. The chat was very simple – there’s a bit help in the wicket, try and use the wicket, not go to the yorkers really quickly. Here in Chinnaswamy, the pressure can come on you really quickly with one or two fours/sixes in an over, just changes everything. It’s important to stay calm and keep trusting that the wicket will help us.”

Lucknow Super Giants will next take on Gujarat Titans on Sunday at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow.