IPL 2024: ‘For the last year and a half, I had been visualising my debut’ – Mayank Yadav after dream start

In the history of Indian cricket, very few fast bowlers have breached the 150 kmph-mark while playing at the top level. Lucknow Super Giants rookie pacer Mayank Yadav did just that as he caught the eyeballs of the cricketing world at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow against Punjab Kings on Saturday as the host registered their maiden win of the season by 21 runs.

Not only the 21-year-old from Delhi showed that he could trouble the opposition batters with his extra pace, but also showed he could get them out. Yadav snared three wickets in his quota of four overs as he returned with impressive figures of 3-27.

All of Yadav’s three scalps came off short-pitched deliveries as he had Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, and Jitesh Sharma, beaten for pace. Yadav, who has been visualising his debut for the last 18 months, had a perfect maiden match as he bagged the Player of the Match.

“For the last year and a half, I had been visualising my debut,” said Mayank at the post-match press conference. “How my first ball would be and how I’d manage myself with the ball in front of such huge crowds. Everyone told me that there would be pressure and nervousness, but I honestly didn’t feel that. When my captain gave me the ball, I felt from inside that I belonged straightaway and there was a lot of confidence.”

Yadav added how Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer and bowling coach Morne Morkel advised him to back his strengths.

“JL (Justin Langer) and Morne (Morkel) never told me to work with anything. They know that my pace with hard lengths are good. They just told me to keep plans simple, bowl quick on hard lengths and attack the stumps as much as possible.”

Yadav revealed he has a love affair with speed and has been troubled by a couple of injuries, which have kept him out of him.

“My goal has always been to be consistent for the team and give less runs. This pace is a plus point for me, so I try to use it to the best of my ability.”

“I love speed, not just in cricket but also in general life. Be it a plane or rocket or superbikes. So, I love speed.”

“I had a side strain with rib fracture. It happened after the Vijay Hazare trophy. All the physios tell me that these injuries are part and parcel of a fast bowler’s life. In the last 12-18 months, I’ve had two to three major injuries and I missed last IPL season due to injury itself. So, I’m focused on trying to avoid injuries as much as possible and manage my strength and conditioning.”

Lucknow Super Giants will next take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Tuesday.