With his outstanding performance in the IPL 2024 match against Punjab, Mayank Yadav, a young fast bowler from Lucknow, has drawn the attention of cricket fans. The 21-year-old’s control was praised by former England fast bowler Stuart Broad, who emphasised his capacity to keep accurate lines and lengths throughout his spell.
Yadav’s explosive speed, which saw him often reach 150 kph and once reach 155.8 kph, was a serious obstacle for the Punjab batsmen. In the end, he secured three vital wickets for his team while giving up just 27 runs in his four overs. His outstanding bowling resulted in the dismissal of important players like Jonny Bairstow and Jitesh Sharma.
Broad praised Yadav for his maturity on the field, pointing out that in spite of his quick pace, he maintained his focus on bowling precise deliveries—a trait that young bowlers frequently lack. Yadav’s performance upset Punjab’s batting momentum, resulting in a spectacular collapse from a commanding position of 102 for no loss to a challenging total to chase.
He obviously possesses natural pace, but even for a young bowler, Stuart Broad’s control of line and length was remarkable, Star Sports reported.
As a young bowler, you can occasionally charge in with emotion and attempt to bowl as fast as you can. Nevertheless, the radar goes. However, I felt he had excellent mastery of the lines. Yes, with a little bit of breadth, Jonny Bairstow hit a wonderful shot to the rear of the net. Other than that, though, he didn’t really offer the batters much. When you witness elite batters like Jonny Bairstow, who have competed internationally, being hurried, you can tell they are unique,” he continued.
With Yadav winning the Player of the Match award for his spectacular IPL debut, Lucknow triumphed by 21 runs after successfully defending their total of 199.
“I’m thrilled to see him win Player of the Match. It makes me happy to watch a fast bowler win an award,” Broad continued.
I’ve texted Steve Smith already, so you don’t have to go very far ahead.
Looking forward, When it came to Yadav’s explosive pace, Broad made a lighthearted warning to Australian batsman Steve Smith, saying that the team should be ready to take on the teenage phenomenon in the next Test series between Australia and India.
It’s not necessary to go very far ahead. I did, however, text Steve Smith beforehand. Get used to seeing this guy in Australia during the Test series, said Broad.
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Mayank Yadav’s stunning debut has definitely put him on the radar of cricket selectors, as requests for his inclusion in the senior national team build traction. Mohsin Khan’s two wickets with the ball, together with Yadav’s, were crucial to Lucknow’s victory and demonstrated the team’s explosive pace attack.