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Two fast bowlers has stood out over the last few years in the Indian Premier League (IPL) because of their speed.
One is Umran Malik, from Jammu and Kashmir, who notched a top speed of 157kmh in 2022, before regularly bowling at 150kmh and above.
The other is Delhi lad Mayank Yadav, who has created a storm in this year’s tournament.
The 21-year-old, while making his debut for Lucknow Super Giants against Punjab Kings last month, bowled a ball at 155.8kmh.
In the next game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, he went one better with a 156.7kmh scorcher – the season’s quickest delivery.
What was even more telling was that he picked up six wickets for 41 runs across the two matches, and took home both the man of the match awards.
Watching his performance, former West Indies bowler and commentator Ian Bishop called him a “child of the wind”.
Dale Steyn, one of the greatest fast bowlers in history and who Mayank described as his idol, said on Twitter: “Mayank Yadav where have you been hiding!”
Former Australia player Tom Moody felt Yadav was “definitely in the conversation” to make India’s squad for the T20 World Cup in June.
Many bowlers have topped 150kmh in the IPL. Australian Shaun Tait tops the list with 157.7kmh, followed by New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson (157.3kmh) and Malik (157kmh). Mayank is in fourth spot.
But what has made many experts gush over Mayank’s performances is his accuracy and control. He hasn’t yet bowled a single extra in the IPL. He has varied his lengths without pace being affected.
And he has prised out some high-quality batters.
Against Punjab, he accounted for Englishman Jonny Bairstow, one of the more accomplished players of fast bowling, by hurrying him on the pull shot.
He similarly dismissed Bangalore’s Glenn Maxwell, one of the best T20 batters in the world, and also uprooted Australian star Cameron Green’s off-stump.
“He has some real extra speed that you don’t really see a lot of around world cricket at the moment,” Maxwell told ESPN.
Usually, the faster a bowler bowls, the harder it is for them to maintain control. Tait and Malik both suffered from that. Mayank has defied the stereotype.
But there are other pitfalls, such as injuries.
In his third match against Gujarat Titans, Mayank bowled just one over, clocking near 140kmh, before leaving the field with an abdominal strain – which proves just how difficult it is to bowl continuously at a high pace.
Malik played 10 one-day internationals and eight T20I internationals for India in 2022 and 2023, but cannot currently command a guaranteed place in the first XI of his franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad. His pace has diminished and he is prone to injuries.
Mayank already missed last year’s IPL due to injury, and the Lucknow team’s physios worked hard to get him fit for this season.
“He’s quietly, patiently waited for two seasons in the dugout,” said Lucknow captain K.L. Rahul.
“He understands that bowling 155kmh is not easy, and he’s had a few injuries. But he’s professional in looking after his body and he has a great temperament.”
It’s still early days for Mayank. But, if he can stay fit, he could very well make the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup in the United States and the West Indies in June.
Former Indian chairman of selectors M.S.K, Prasad, for one, believes Mayank is an ideal replacement for the injured Mohammed Shami.
“Mayank has shown that he can absorb pressure and bowl consistently at a good line and has already troubled the best of the lot with his pace,” Prasad told RevSportz.
“If they are not able to bring the bat down against the pace he has been generating, I think he will be handy.”
“He has some real extra speed that you don’t really see a lot of around world cricket at the moment.”
