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India’s pace sensation, Mayank Yadav made his much-awaited debut in the first T20I against Bangladesh in Gwalior. The 22-year-old, who caught eyeballs during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 while playing for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), got his maiden wicket on his debut as he dismissed Mahmudullah.
Despite his debut, Mayank refrained from bowling above 150 kmph. In IPL 2024, the express pacer clocked 156.7 kmph delivery along with bowling with varied pace between 135 and 150 kmph. Seeing this, a lot of eyebrows were raised, questioning if he actually has that pace or whether he refrained after coming back from a long injury layoff.
Was determined to bowl in right lengths, rather than speed: Mayank Yadav
The Indian speedster later opened up on why he did not bowl to the fullest, sharing Gautam Gambhir’s important message. “I was indeed excited but was a bit more nervous. This series marked my comeback after the injury. I didn't play competitive cricket and then directly made my debut. That's why I was a little more nervous," Yadav told JioCinema.
"The recovery period was tough for more. Quite a lot of ups and downs were there in the last 4 months. But more than me, it was tougher for the people who worked with me," he added. Meanwhile he also revealed that he was determined to bowl in right lengths, rather than worrying about the speed. “I focused more on my body. Also, I was determined to hit proper lengths instead of bowling faster. I didn’t think about my speed. I just tried leaking the least runs possible and bowling at a proper line and length,” he added.
Stick to the basics: Gautam Gambhir’s advice to Mayank Yadav
The Indian speedster also revealed the advice he received from Head Coach Gautam Gambhir. Speaking with JioCinema, Mayank Yadav added, “Nothing extra, he asked me to stick to the basics and do the things that have yielded positive results for me in the past. He asked me not to think much about trying different things or even think that it was an international game. Following the process was the key.”
The Suryakumar Yadav-led Men in Blue will next take on Bangladesh on October 9 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, hoping to seal the series. The two teams will then travel to Hyderabad for the third T20I, set to be played on Saturday, October 12.
