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The meteoric rise of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)‘ young speedster, Mayank Yadav, in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 has been nothing short of extraordinary, captivating the cricketing world with his blazing pace and precision.
Mayank Yadav’s journey to success in the IPL 2024
Despite facing an injury setback before the previous IPL season, Mayank staged a remarkable comeback, showcasing stellar performances that left batters from Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) struggling in the 2024 IPL campaign. His exceptional displays earned him consecutive Player of the Match awards, firmly establishing his dominance in the league.
Bowling brilliance: Mayank’s impact on the field
Across two games, Mayank clinched six wickets with an outstanding economy rate of 5.12 and an astonishing average of 6.89. His standout moment came against RCB, where he recorded figures of 3/14, terrorizing batters with his blistering pace. Despite his brief IPL stint, the 21-year-old consistently clocked speeds exceeding 150 kmph, including the fastest ball of IPL 2024 by an Indian at an impressive 156.7 kmph. He has secured the second position in the race for the Purple Cap, trailing only Mustafizur Rahman of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Also READ: IPL 2024: Top 5 fastest deliveries by Indian pacers in the tournament history ft. Mayank Yadav
Kagiso Rabada points out a defining feature that sets Mayank apart
Kagiso Rabada, the esteemed South African pace spearhead representing Punjab, couldn’t help but marvel at Mayank’s bowling prowess. Rabada showered praise on Mayank’s impeccable accuracy and highlighted his innate ability to generate raw pace, a rare quality that distinguishes him from his contemporaries.
“He has got something that you cannot buy and that is raw pace. That is what exactly he is exploiting and exploiting it extremely well,” Rabada was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
“The lengths that he hits, his plan is clear and now batters are going to be aware of what he can bring to the party but it is pretty obvious he has got immense pace and it seems he can control where he wants to bowl. When you have got pace and control as well, and he understands his role. So, when you have got clarity, it is no surprise that he is turning out performances like that,” the 28-year-old added.
Rabada on Mayank’s chances for T20 World Cup 2024
Mayank’s rapid ascent has sparked discussions about his potential inclusion in India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, slated to take place in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA) in June. Rabada echoed this sentiment, underscoring Mayank’s undeniable talent and making a compelling case for his selection in the prestigious tournament.
“At this stage, he is looking hot and I have no doubt selectors will be looking at him at as a potential guy in the team but that is none of my business. To my understanding, he will definitely be looked at as a potential pick,” Rabada concluded.
