Mayank Yadav’s selection in the Indian squad for the T20Is against Bangladesh has got the LSG Brigade buzzing with excitement - all thanks to VVS Laxman, who took special care to fast-track Mayank’s recovery as the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.

The 22-year-old speedster made an eye-catching IPL debut earlier this year, consistently bowling at speeds over 150kmph with impressive accuracy. 

Mayank clocked one of the fastest deliveries in IPL history with a 156.7kmph thunderbolt against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He picked up seven wickets from four matches with an average of 12.14 but his promising season was cut short due to injury.

The wait for an India call-up seemed prolonged after the injury in the IPL but the BCCI wasted no time in slotting the X-factor into the squad as soon as the NCA cleared Mayank’s return to competitive cricket.

Mayank's coach, Devender Sharma, revealed how Laxman took a personal interest in guiding the young pacer's recovery. 

“All credit to Laxman sir. He took a special interest in Mayank, right from the day Mayank went to NCA”, Sharma shared with The Indian Express. He was given a clear instruction by Laxman sir to first work on his core strength and then start bowling.”

Sharma explained that the process was deliberately slow as the BCCI wanted to avoid any risk of re-injury. “Mayank started bowling two months back but it took another month to regain his pace. Over the last six weeks, he’s been bowling 15 overs a day at the NCA, as per Laxman sir’s plan,” added the coach.

Mayank’s return to form saw him named in India's squad for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh.

Test debut on the horizon?

While the T20I debut is exciting, Sharma hinted at bigger plans. The BCCI is considering Mayank for the upcoming five-Test series against Australia but they want to monitor his progress. 

The NCA wants him to play Ranji Trophy for Delhi to see how his body handles the demands of multi-day cricket. “For now, he is fit to bowl four overs, in my opinion, he needs a season of domestic cricket to get ready for the four-day matches,” Devender Sharma noted.

Mayank Yadav’s selection in the Indian squad has got us all excited. Here’s hoping to see Mayank shine not just in T20Is but potentially in the Test arena as well.