The Lucknow Super Giants unearthed a hidden gem in their IPL 2024 opener against the Punjab Kings. Young pacer Mayank Yadav, making his IPL debut, set the stage on fire with his raw pace, a key factor in his team’s 21-run victory on a batting-friendly pitch.
Mayank Yadav stuns Punjab Kings
Chasing a target of 200, the Punjab Kings openers, Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow, started aggressively, scoring at over 10 runs per over. Just as Punjab looked poised to accelerate, the introduction of Mayank turned the tide.
Bowling with unexpected pace, even exceeding 150 kmph at times, he surprised the batters in his very first over. His second over brought the crucial wicket of Jonny Bairstow, who mistimed a pull shot.
Young Guns Light Up Match
Punjab briefly regained momentum with impactful cameos from substitute player Prabhsimran Singh and Jitesh Sharma.
However, Mayank Yadav continued his impressive spell, dismissing both batsmen with his fiery pace. By the end of his three overs, he had picked up three crucial wickets for just 27 runs, leaving Punjab needing a daunting 60 runs off the last four overs.
LSG Clinch Victory
Dhawan’s dismissal by Mohsin Khan followed by a first-ball duck for Liam Livingstone due to an injury significantly dented Punjab’s hopes. While Livingstone displayed grit, fighting on till the end, LSG bowlers held their nerve to secure a well-deserved victory.
Mayank Yadav reflects on dream debut
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Mayank expressed his surprise at his own pace, revealing, “I have never bowled 156kph before today. I have clocked 155kph, but this is my first time bowling the fastest ball.”
Highlighting his goals, he stated, “My aim is to be consistent for the team and to leak less runs. Pace is a plus point for me and I try to use it in a good way.”
Lucknow Super Giants scouting story
Mayank Yadav also shed light on how the Lucknow Super Giants discovered him. He revealed that assistant coach, Vijay Dahiya, spotted him two years ago during a Vijay Hazare match between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh and requested his videos before the mega auction. This discovery has proven to be a masterstroke for the Lucknow team, and Mayank Yadav’s fiery debut promises much excitement for the rest of the IPL season.
