Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pacer Mayank Yadav has acknowledged the noticeable drop in his bowling speed since returning from a prolonged injury layoff, saying it’s a natural part of recovery and something he isn’t overly concerned about.
Having made a comeback to competitive cricket just late last month after nearly six months out with multiple injuries—including a back issue and a toe injury—Mayank is still rediscovering his rhythm. In the IPL 2024 season, he consistently bowled over 150kph, peaking at 156.7kph. This season, however, he has mostly hovered in the 130s, occasionally touching 140kph.
“This is normal,” Mayank said ahead of LSG’s must-win clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Lucknow. “I had a major injury that kept me out for five to six months. The body needs time to adjust. I’ll have to give my body and my bowling the time it needs to get those speeds back. There’s been no change to my technique.”
Mayank, 22, was among the three players retained by LSG ahead of the 2025 IPL auction. Despite making his India debut against Bangladesh last October, he missed the entire 2024-25 domestic season due to injury and only recently returned to action.
“There hasn’t been any major change in my strategy,” he said. “I’m sticking to what I’ve always done. It’s just that the body is reacting differently after a major injury. I haven’t faced match pressure or intensity for a while now. My intent is still the same. I just need to adapt quicker to pitches and opposition batters.”
In his two outings this season, Mayank has had a mixed bag—taking 2 for 40 against Mumbai Indians before an expensive 0 for 60 against Punjab Kings. He’s been using more variations, including slower balls, which he says are now more necessary due to changing conditions.
“I’ve always had those variations, but didn’t need them as much last season,” he explained. “Then, I was asked to bowl fast and hit the hard lengths. This time, the surfaces demand more change-ups. My goal is always to be seen as a strike bowler and someone who can take wickets. Even if I go for runs, I want the team to feel I can deliver breakthroughs.”
Mayank also reflected on LSG’s inconsistent performances, admitting the team has struggled with adapting to pitch conditions quickly enough. He believes there’s still hope for a playoff berth if they can win their remaining games.
He also voiced support for captain Rishabh Pant, who has endured a lean tournament with only 128 runs from 11 innings, averaging just 12.80.
“I’ve known Rishabh bhaiya for a long time—we play for the same club in Delhi. Whenever I talk to him, I don’t sense any pressure. He’s calm, confident, and talks to me about the game and our opponents with clarity.”
“We’ve been late in reading the grounds and pitches in some matches, and I admit we’ve made errors. But we’ve got three games left, and if we win those, there’s still a chance to qualify.”
