Each year, the Indian Premier League (IPL), the most lucrative cricket event in the world, reveals a wealth of talented individuals.
However, there have only been two instances in which a young Indian fast bowler has been the subject of awe-inspiring conversation due to their extraordinary speed.
Three years ago, Umran Malik, who was from the region of Kashmir that India rules, caused a stir. When it comes to the Indian Premier League 2024, Mayank Yadav is the one who is attracting attention almost as quickly as he is turning up the dial on speed guns.
With a fantastic run of rapid bowling, the lanky bowler from Delhi, who is 21 years old, made his debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Lucknow Super Giants against Punjab Kings in March. He set hearts racing with his performance. In his first game, he bowled a delivery at a speed of 155.8 kilometers per hour (96 miles per hour), which earned him the man-of-the-match title.
Yadav went one better in the subsequent match, scoring a 156.7 km/h (96 mph) scorcher, which was the fastest delivery of the season up to that point. He also won the man-of-the-match award for the second time in a row against Royal Challengers Bangalore, an Indian Premier League first for a debutant. Between the two encounters, he took six wickets, only allowing 41 runs to be scored.
As a result of his performance, Yadav was referred to as a “child of the wind” by Ian Bishop, a commentator and former bowler for the West Indies.
On Twitter, Dale Steyn, who is widely considered one of the finest fast bowlers in the sport’s history, expressed his admiration for Mayank Yadav, saying, “Mayank Yadav, where have you been hiding!” After his second game, Steyn sent out a tweet in which he stated, “That’s a serious ball! “#PACE”
According to Tom Moody, a former player for Australia, Yadav was “definitely in the conversation” to be included in India’s squad for the Twenty20 World Cup, which will take place after the Indian Premier League.
What caused the generally level-headed and experienced professionals to get so enthusiastic about Yadav after he had only participated in two matches?
To begin, the tempo. Other players have reached speeds of more than 150 kilometers per hour in this Indian Premier League, but none of them have been as consistent as Yadav or with quite the same fierce effect.
The pace alone, however, is rarely sufficient at the highest level. Control was what set Yadav apart from the rest of the pack. In the Indian Premier League, he has not yet bowled a single extra over. He has changed his lengths without affecting the pace of his progression. Additionally, there is the quality of batters that are caught and how they are dismissed.
During the match against Punjab, he defeated Jonny Bairstow, considered one of the most accomplished players in the fast bowling genre, by rushing him on the pull stroke. This was a clear indication of how quick he was.
In his match against Bangalore, he performed even better, removing Glenn Maxwell, who is widely considered one of the top Twenty20 batters in the world.
In uprooting his off-stump, he surpassed another Australian star, Cameron Green, regarding raw speed. Fast bowling is not unfamiliar with the color green. The bat was hanging loosely at the crease, a telltale sign of a batter anticipating a short delivery and reacting belatedly to one that wasn’t. Here, he stood paralyzed at the crease.
In an interview with ESPN, Maxwell compared Yadav to the former Australian bowler Shaun Tait when he was at the height of his career. “He has some real extra speed that you don’t really see a lot of around world cricket at the moment,” they said.
For the most part, fast bowlers know that the quicker they bowl, the more difficult it is to control the ball. Both Tait and Malik have experienced the situation. To this point, Yadav has not conformed to the stereotype.
Other possible hazards are still to come, however.
Several Indian pacers have made their debut on the scene as tearaway quicks, but as time has progressed, they have transitioned into the “medium-fast” pacers category.
In addition, there is the ever-present danger of injury associated with the practice of fast bowling, which is a physically demanding motion performed over extended periods.
Yadav faced the possibility of injury in his third match against Gujarat Titans. This came after he had suffered injuries in his previous two games.
Even though he just bowled one over, he hit around 140 kilometers per hour, which is quick for most bowlers but not up to Yadav’s typical quality. Afterward, he departed the field due to a discomfort on his side.
According to Yadav’s teammates, he appeared to be in good health and had little reason to be concerned. Even if he fully recovers quickly, this occurrence provides valuable insight into the demands that come with rapid bowling and how they affect speed. Yadav has already dealt with the problem; he could not participate in the Indian Premier League the previous year owing to an injury.
The beginning of Yadav’s adventure began when his father, a supplier of sirens for police vehicles, invited him to join the prestigious Sonnet Cricket Club in Delhi. During a net session in a domestic event, his pace drew the attention of Vijay Dahiya, a former cricketer for India who was coaching Uttar Pradesh at the time.
In addition to his role as assistant coach for LSG, Dahiya called Gautam Gambhir, who was serving as the team mentor then, and informed him that Yadav needed to be signed. During the Indian Premier League 2022 auction, LSG purchased Yadav for his two million rupees base price. However, since he did not have sufficient “bowling miles” in his legs, they did not play him during the tournament’s first year. They never had any doubts about his capabilities.
Yadav is still in the beginning stages. Several obstacles need to be overcome.
The situation with Malik serves as a timely reminder of how challenging the path may be. Malik participated in ten one-day internationals and eight Twenty20 internationals for India in 2022 and 2023. Yet, he still needs to look for a spot in the first XI of his franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad.
However, suppose Yadav can maintain his fitness and continue to develop as a bowler. In that case, life will happen for him even while he travels 150 kilometers per hour.
