During the 2021 season, the teams from Uttar Pradesh and Delhi were practicing together at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Former Indian wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya was the coach for Uttar Pradesh, and during Delhi’s nets, a fast bowler caught his attention, prompting him to go to a spot to watch him closely.
After bowling a few deliveries, Dahiya felt that he had found an exciting and talented prospect for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where he was an assistant coach and talent scout. After the nets were over, Dahiya immediately contacted the fast bowler and soon after that he spoke to Gautam Gambhir who was the LSG’s cricket director at that time. In the call he requested and asked Gambhir to pick Mayank quickly in the auction.
That fast bowler was Mayank Yadav, who is now 21 years old and made headlines on Saturday with a spell of five overs against the Punjab Kings that was remembered for a long time. Bowling consistently over 150 kph, Mayank troubled experienced batsmen with his pace, and his thunderbolt at 155.8 kph to dismiss Shikhar Dhawan was recorded as the fastest delivery of this IPL season.
After Punjab reached 200 in the chase, Mayank took crucial wickets from Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, and Jitesh Sharma, who tried to counter his express pace with aggressive strokes. Mayank became the Man of the Match in his IPL debut and immediately became a sensation.
“He came and broke our batting backbone,” former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar, now the Kings’ cricket director, said. “He bowled really fast and made the bounce uncomfortable. He used a lot of aggression in the match. He put us in big trouble.”
His selection, bought by LSG at his base price of INR 20 lakhs in the IPL 2022 auction, was a humbling start to his IPL career. Speaking to the media in Lucknow, Mayank recalled his excitement when LSG coach Justin Langer told him he would be making his debut against the Kings the next evening.
“I was very excited,” he said. “For the past two years, I was just thinking about one thing: how will I bowl the first ball in the IPL and how will it feel in front of the audience? People used to say, [I might feel a little nervousness, a little pressure. But I didn’t feel anything at all. When the captain [Nicholas Pooran] told me to bowl my first over, I felt from within that I was a part of this place. And my confidence was high.”
Dale Steyn, whom Mayank “worshipped,” was watching from home and tweeted, “Mayank Yadav, where have you been hiding?”
Brett Lee also expressed a similar sentiment.
While there was anticipation for Mayank, it was also a bit frustrating for him. After playing for LSG and winning, Mayank left the stadium, and Dale Steyn said, “Mayank Yadav, where were you hiding?” Mayank’s wait was worth it, though. “I had a belief that I could do it,” he said after a few weeks of frustration due to injury. His impact was felt immediately on the opposing batsmen, and he performed well, forcing them to play better.
“I taught myself not to bother myself and trouble the batsmen,” he said. “It was a learning process. I learned that every delivery I make is very important.” Planning for the second season is now a priority for Mayank. His plans are to continue playing cricket in rural clubs to develop his bowling into a more distributive form, which will be necessary for him. “It’s a very good experience,” he said. “Anything can happen. This is a unique experience for me, and I am enjoying it.”
Mayank Yadav becomes the first player in IPL history to win the POTM award in the 1st two matches.
