Published: Sep 29, 2024, 11:58 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 29, 2024, 11:58 PM (IST)
Rising pace sensation Mayank Yadav earned his maiden India call-up after being named in the squad for the 3-match T20I series against Bangladesh that is set to commence from October 6. After this, the pacer’s coach Devender Sharma said the young pacer is eager to perform at his best after missing months of competitive cricket.
“I feel very proud of him. His selection in the Indian team would have come earlier if he hadn’t been injured. He was disheartened after missing most of the matches for LSG in IPL 2024, but with the help of NCA, he is fully fit and fine, running hard, and bowling with the same pace. For sure, he will put up a good performance with the ball. He is hungry for it,” Devender said.
After a prolonged injury layoff, Mayank was cleared by VVS Laxman, head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), to play in the series. The injury back during the last season of IPL where he only played 5 matches but made a huge impression with his raw pace, regularly clocking speeds of 155 kph. Mayank’s coach also shed light on his slow and careful recovery process.
“Straightaway, he went to NCA in Bengaluru and started working on his fitness, diet, and all the necessary recovery steps. It was a slow process as the abdomen injury needed surgery, and coming out of that took time. When he started practicing again, his speed dropped a bit, but now he’s back to full fitness and bowling with the same speed and accuracy,” Devender said.
His coach also believes that his selection in the Indian squad for the Bangladesh T20Is, marks the beginning of a bright international career, but urges caution regarding the pacer’s workload.
“He is still very young, so his body hasn’t fully developed like other pacers. A selective approach should be taken, allowing him to grow into the international scene gradually. Pace can be generated by many, but the accuracy he has is rare,” Devender said.
