After his explosive start in IPL 2024, LSG speedster Mayank Yadav is already on the fast-track to stardom and the youngster has no signs that he’s going to slow down anytime soon.

The 21-year-old LSG pacer has already picked up six wickets in his first two matches in the Indian Premier League, producing Player of the Match performances against both Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, becoming the first player in the history of the competition to pick up back-to-back POTM awards in their first two outings.

Blessed with raw pace, Mayank has consistently hit speeds over 150kmph on the speedgun, with his fastest measuring at 156.7. In fact, four of Mayank’s 48 deliveries in the IPL so far have measured over 155kmph.

Shaun Tait still holds the record for the fastest ball ever bowled in the IPL (157.7kmph) while Umran Malik (156.9kmph) is the fastest Indian bowler in the competition. However, no bowler has managed 155+ speeds more than twice in the IPL till date.

The consistency with which Mayank has hit these blinding speeds is truly astounding, especially considering he’s just two matches old. And as per fast bowling legend Brett Lee, Mayank has the potential to go even faster.

“Mayank’s speed is amazing but he has more pace in the locker. If he can keep his head straight before releasing the ball, he can add around 4-5kmph to his deliveries,” Lee said.

A 4-5kmph increase would take Mayank in the 160kmph range. While the milestone is yet to be breached in the IPL, only five bowlers - Shoaib Akhtar, Brett Lee, Shaun Tait, Jeff Thomson and Mitchell Starc - have ever managed to go past the coveted 160-mark in international cricket.

No Indian bowler has ever managed to hit 160 in top-flight cricket till date. Mayank, if he can achieve what Lee believes he can, will reach where no Indian pacer has ever been before.

Interestingly, Glenn Maxwell, who was one of Mayank’s victims in the match against RCB, likened Mayank to one of his former Australian teammates who is a member of the elite 160-club - Shaun Tait.

“Mayank has a beautiful and smooth action. I think pace-wise, the only one that I can sort of really resemble it to is a little bit like Shaun Tait when he was in his heyday. I think when he was at the peak of his powers it was extremely hard to pick up the extra zip it feels like it has off the wicket. I think that's as close as it probably comes to it,” Maxwell said.

Maxwell also delved into what makes Mayank so lethal and noted, “He has some real extra speed that you don't really see a lot of around world cricket at the moment. You see guys bowl pretty consistently around the 140s or high 140s. But to have mid-150s consistently in your arsenal is pretty formidable."

Mayank’s impressive outings and raw pace have already seen fans and experts alike call for his inclusion in the national team setup. Brett Lee, however, feels that the youngster’s inclusion to the Indian team needs to be carefully handled so that it doesn’t create any extra pressure on the 21-year-old.

“I don’t want to put any extra pressure on him. If we talk about the chance to represent India, it could put pressure on the guy who’s 21 years of age. I am super impressed with what I have seen of him so far – he’s got great pace and nice action. I am excited to see how his future progresses in the next 12-18 months,” Lee said.

Mayank’s speed and consistency has already earned him a sizable number of admirers, with some former greats from the fast bowling fraternity leading the cheer squad.

South African speedster Dale Steyn, who incidentally Mayank himself idolises, has, on multiple occasions, expressed his admiration of the Indian youngster on social media.

Former West Indian pacer and commentator Ian Bishop has even nicknamed Mayank ‘the child of wind’.

 

The LSG youngster has also received high praise from former Indian seamer Irfan Pathan, who holds the record for the second-fastest delivery bowled by an Indian in international cricket, as well as eminent batters like Suryakumar Yadav, Shikhar Dhawan and Shane Watson.

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