Mayank Yadav, the 22-year-old fast-bowling sensation from Delhi, stunned the cricketing world with his exceptional debut in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). Representing Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Yadav made an immediate impact, consistently breaching the 150 kmph barrier. His debut match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) saw him clock a staggering 155.8 kmph, the fastest ball of the tournament at that time. His lethal combination of speed and accuracy dismantled experienced batsmen, including Jonny Bairstow and Prabhsimran Singh, as he claimed three crucial wickets that guided LSG to victory.

"You can’t wrap him up in cotton wool saying he will get injured..."

Yadav's performances only improved, as he went on to deliver the fastest ball of the 2024 IPL season at 156.7 kmph during LSG’s encounter with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). His rapid rise in the cricketing world had fans and experts alike anticipating a bright future for the young pacer. However, after just four matches, Yadav's journey took a sudden pause, leaving many to question what lay ahead for the young speedster.

“I don’t agree that if he is not ready, just don’t play him. This is the age where he has to bowl. A bowler should bowl. The more you bowl, the more you will have control, you will know your threshold as to how much your body can take. You can’t wrap him up in cotton wool saying he will get injured. We can’t overbowl and burn him out but we have to be smart about how much he should bowl. As a fast bowler, he needs to play first-class cricket,” Paras Mhambrey told The Indian Express.

“When you play one season, you understand your bowling. You bowl in different conditions. Physically, you will be tested in different phases of the game. Sometimes, you will have to be on the ground for six sessions. And to be able to bowl with the same intensity in the last session will give you confidence when you play at the international level. I strongly feel Mayank needs to grind it out in the domestic season,” Mhambrey added.

The silence after the storm

Since his fiery IPL debut, Mayank Yadav has been conspicuously absent from competitive cricket. After the conclusion of the tournament, he has not played a single match, sparking concerns about his development as a fast bowler. Former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey has weighed in on the situation, advising the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) not to keep Yadav in "cotton wool." Mhambrey believes that Yadav should be bowling as many overs as possible in the nets and participating in first-class cricket to strengthen his bowling muscles and adjust his body to the rigors of fast bowling.

“I am not looking at the next 10 or 15 years. I want to see what he can do in the next five. The next three-four years will be extremely crucial for him. Once he is 25-26, he will understand his body much better. And then he will have a good five years at the international level,” Mhambrey added on the matter.

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While Yadav is currently training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, having opted out of the Delhi Premier League, Mhambrey emphasized that his immediate future should focus on building resilience. The coach, known for nurturing India’s top pacers, is more interested in what Yadav can offer over the next five years, rather than long-term prospects, urging that now is the time for Yadav to maximize his potential.