Young Mayank Yadav made waves with his fiery 150+ kmph deliveries in the first three matches of IPL 2024. However, the pacer has spent more time warming the bench and being on the sidelines than getting some game time. Yadav has a history of injuries ever since he was picked up by Lucknow Super Giants in 2022. While he has been retained by LSG for a whooping Rs 11 cr ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, LSG might be boggled by their gamble on an inconsistent and injury prone Mayank Yadav.
Timeline of Mayank Yadav’s injuries
- Skipped IPL 2022 after being picked up by the team in the auction
- Injury keeps Mayank Yadav out of IPL 2023 as well
- Makes dream debut for LSG in IPL 2024
- Walked off the field midway of his 1st match due to an abdominal injury
- Returns in the 2nd match only to walk off once after bowling 3.1 overs.
- Sidelined for rest of IPL 2024 due to a side strain
- Regained full fitness after rehabiliation at the NCA in Bengaluru
- Played IND vs BAN T20Is, bagging 2 wickets in two matches
- Included in squad for South Africa T20Is but unable to play the series due to injury sustained during IPL 2024
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Injured Mayank Yadav can be a bad gamble for LSG
Mayank Yadav’s retention by LSG comes as no surprise, given that the budding bowler was one of the best finds for the franchise. But as it always happens with bowlers, with speed comes the bigger risk of injury and that is exactly what has happened with Yadav. He spent two years on the bench due to an injury despite being picked in 2022. When he made his IPL debut in 2024, his stint only lasted for three matches before he was forced to sit out for the remainder of the season due to a side strain.
Reccurring nature of Mayank Yadav’s injuries a cause for concern for LSG
While Mayank Yadav was expected to be fast-tracked to Tests and was expected to board a flight to Australia for Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he has faced yet another setback. He made his T20I debut in IND vs BAN series and had a decent couple of outings. He was then named in the squad for IND vs SA T20Is. But his injury from IPL 2024 returned to haunt him, forcing him to skip the series. He is set to be out of action for 3 months, which means he might be fully fit just in time for IPL 2025.
“There appears to be some problem with his back. Could also be a case of stress fracture. As per the earlier prescription from the NCA, he could play in the Ranji Trophy from its fourth or fifth round, but that’s no longer possible now. He’s again out for quite some time,” a BCCI official told PTI.
Recurring injuries pose a huge threat to Mayank Yadav’s career and LSG would want to rethink their position on the pacer, if they get the chance to, for their gamble could go awry.
