Former Cricketer Ambati Rayudu commented that it is hard for a player coming back from injury to perform well and that is the very thing happening with Mayank Yadav. Rayudu also mentioned that the Lucknow Super Giants might be forcing him to get back too soon when he really has not yet recovered fully.
Since Mayank’s rehab at the Centre of Excellence by BCCI, Mayank hasn’t been bowling his top speed. Rayudu feels that Mayank looks somewhat off, being short on confidence and fitness after the recent game against Punjab Kings: “I think he needs confidence more than anything. It is difficult to get back to your best after injury. Look at Archer; it took him six months after the injury to really get back to his form.”
He further added that it would be really tough to criticize Mayank for putting up poor performances, but it almost looks like LSG might have hurried to get him back into the playing eleven, while he was perhaps still not ready. Mayank had a breakout season last year, hitting speeds at times in excess of 150 kmph. In IPL 2024, he bagged seven wickets from four matches, averaging 12.14 with a commendable economy rate of 6.99.
From another perspective, the struggles of Rishabh Pant threw the huge light on the poor campaign of Lucknow that was marred by dull bowling, ridden by a Mayank who was arguably unfit. He did not have the pace following his rehab under the watchful eyes of Nitin Patel at the NCA. Mayank was chewed up for 60 runs in his 4 overs with six sixes thrashed out of his bowling. Prabhsimran Singh also found the tastes of glory, piling on 91 off 48 balls with six fours and seven sixes. LSG’s opening fixture will be on May 9 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at home.
