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In a display of sheer brilliance, debutant Mayank Yadav orchestrated a masterful performance, propelling Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to their inaugural triumph in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign. With unwavering precision and a fierce display of raw pace, the 21-year-old prodigy mesmerized spectators as LSG defended a formidable target of 200 runs, curtailing Punjab Kings (PBKS) to a mere 178/5 in 20 overs.
Mayank Yadav shines with raw pace and precision
Hailing from Delhi, Mayank’s virtuoso bowling yielded three pivotal wickets in a spellbinding four-over display, conceding a mere 27 runs. His scalps included the notable dismissals of Jonny Bairstow (42), Prabhsimran Singh (19) and Jitesh Sharma (6). Astonishingly, Mayank consistently unleashed deliveries exceeding 150 kph, with his fastest registering a staggering 155.8 kph, marking the fastest ball of IPL 2024.
Also READ: IPL 2024: Top 5 fastest deliveries by Indian pacers in the tournament history
Stuart Broad lauds Mayank’s control and finesse on the field
Following the enthralling encounter, former England pace bowler Stuart Broad, in an exclusive interview with Star Sports, extolled Yadav’s remarkable control and finesse on the field. Broad lauded the young phenom’s ability to maintain impeccable line and length throughout his spell, highlighting his rare combination of natural pace and precision – a trait often elusive among budding bowlers.
“Obviously, he has a natural pace, but his control of line and length was exceptional for a young bowler. Sometimes, as a young bowler, you can come in and charge in with the emotion and try and bowl as quickly as possible. But the radar goes. But I thought his control of the lines was fantastic,” Broad said.
“Yes, Jonny Bairstow hit a fantastic shot to the backward of point when there was a bit of width. But, other than that, he really didn’t give the batters anything. When you see world-class batters like Jonny Bairstow, who have played all over the world, when they are getting rushed, you know there’s something special,” the 37-year-old added.
Broad sends a stern message to Steve Smith
The profound impact of Mayank’s virtuosity reverberated throughout the match, disrupting Punjab’s batting juggernaut and precipitating a spectacular collapse from a formidable 102 for no loss to a challenging target. In a testament to his burgeoning talent, Broad revealed that he had already dispatched a cautionary missive to Steve Smith, forewarning of Yadav’s impending prowess ahead of India’s forthcoming five-match Test series in Australia, slated to commence on November 22.
“You don’t need to get far ahead. But I have already texted Steve Smith. If you are seeing this guy in Australia in the Test series, get used to it,” Broad concluded.
