'Mayank Yadav looks more effective than Umran Malik, can be part of T20 WC Squad,' reckons former India cricketer Gursharan Singh - Exclusive

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Mayank Yadav's name has been on everyone's lips ever since the young uncapped India fast bowler started cranking up the speed guns with his express pace in the ongoing IPL 2024.

The 21-year-old cricketer from Delhi made his IPL debut for Lucknow Super Giants Punjab Kings and amazed everyone by bowling real fast, with one delivery reaching 155.8 km/h (96 mph). He was so good that he won the Man of the Match award in his very first match.

In the next match, Mayank blazed through with a thunderbolt clocking at 156.7 km/h (96 mph), marking the season's fastest delivery yet. He clinched his second consecutive man-of-the-match title against Royal Challengers Bangalore, a debutant's first in IPL history.

His tally reached six wickets for 41 runs across both games. In his third match against Gujarat Titans, Mayank only bowled one over; Yash Thakur did the rest of the damage, and LSG won by 33 runs.

myKhel exclusively spoke with Gursharan Singh, the former India cricketer and ex-head coach of the Delhi Ranji Team, who has closely observed Mayank Yadav praised his performance and credited the right-arm pacer from Delhi for LSG's good show in the ongoing IPL season.

Gursharan said, "Mayank's performance has been exceptional in the IPL so far. He bowled brilliantly in his first two matches and also took some big wickets like Jonny Bairstow, Glenn Maxwell, and Cameron Green. Lucknow Super Giants are performing exceptionally well at the moment, and a lot of credit for this goes to Mayank. He is bowling very intelligently and with good pace."

The former India international Gursharan Singh - who has played one Test and an ODI for India - also discussed his initial reaction upon seeing Mayank for the first time.

He added, "When I first saw Mayank, I was sure that one day he would play for India. Delhi is a top team in the domestic circuit, but batters faced Mayank's bowling very carefully. One speciality of Mayank is that he does not speak much; he just keeps smiling, bowling, and focusing on his fitness, aiming to bowl fast and accumulate as many dot balls as possible."

Mayank Needs To Manage His Workload: Gursharan

Being among the quickest bowlers of his time alongside Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee, New Zealand seamer Shane Bond steadfastly adhered to bowling at top speeds, even in the face of counsel urging him to dial back to extend his injury-plagued career.

Although grappling with knee, foot, and abdominal tear problems that prompted his exit from Test cricket, it was his back, necessitating titanium wiring due to a stress fracture, that presented the most formidable obstacle. Similar to Shane Bond, numerous fast bowlers have seen their careers abbreviated by injuries.

When asked what Mayank needs to do to prevent injuries, Gursharan replied, "The injuries that Mayank was supposed to suffer had happened at the beginning of his career, yes he would have had problems if he had suffered these injuries in the next 4-5 years. He has worked hard.

"I have noticed improvements in his bowling technique; his head no longer falls, his follow-through is strong, and his runs are consistent, indicating good rhythm. When we observe the world's best fast bowlers, we see that they have excellent run-ups. Mayank appears robust and has been injury-free for some time now. He needs to communicate regularly with the strength and conditioning coach regarding his workload and rest requirements. If he manages these aspects effectively, he can enjoy a prolonged period of injury-free play."

Mayank Yadav In India's T20 World Cup 2024 Squad?

With the T20 World Cup 2024 set to start just a few days after the conclusion of IPL 2024, Mayank - who has played 17 List A, 13 T20s, and one First-Class game - has already emerged as a red-hot contender for India's squad for the marquee event.

When asked about the chances of Mayank's selection, Gursharan claimed, "He has played just 3 matches. If he gets another 5-6 matches under his belt, continues to bowl like this, and remains fit, it will not be a big deal for him to get selected because he is a very mature bowler.

"He is an intelligent bowler. If you observe his bowling in slog overs, he not only bowls fast but also uses slower ones, and wide yorkers. There is a variety in his bowling arsenal. Mayank's bouncer is the most effective. If he gets selected for the T20 World Cup, then his game will improve further."

Is Mayank Yadav More Effective Than Umran Malik?

Just a few years back, Sunrisers Hyderabad's Umran Malik grabbed headlines for his exceptional pace, earning a place in the Indian squad. However, since then, he has fallen out of favour both with his franchise and the national team. In contrast to Yadav's recent surge in 2024, Malik now finds himself sidelined for the season, losing his spot in Hyderabad's starting lineup.

Gursharan elaborates on why Mayank appears slightly more effective than Umran Malik, and says, "Both are talented bowlers; Umran Malik possesses great skill. However, I believe Umran needs to focus on his accuracy. While bowling at 130 Kmph with precision can be more effective than bowling at 150 Kmph with less accuracy. Mayank's high arm action enhances his control, making him slightly more effective than Umran."

Mayank Yadav - Another Product Of Legendary Coach Tarak Sinha

Late cricket coach Tarak Sinha gave many star cricketers to the country, such as Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Manoj Prabhakar, Surinder Khanna, Anjum Chopra, Ajay Sharma, Aakash Chopra, Sanjeev Sharma. Mayank also looks like another addition to this elite group.

Spotted by Tarak Sinha at the tender age of 13, Mayank showed glimpses of his future stardom when he delivered an impressive performance by taking 6 wickets against Madhya Pradesh.

"During his time in the U-19 category, Mayank showcased his talent by claiming 6 wickets against Madhya Pradesh. He bowled extensive spells, demonstrating his dedication and skill.

"Hailing from the Sonet club, where he was coached by Tarak Sinha, Mayank owes much of his success to the club members who played a pivotal role in his development. Mayank's ability to bowl lengthy spells coupled with his pace and swinging deliveries make him a promising prospect across all three formats," remarked Gursharan Singh.

As IPL 2024 unfolds, Mayank Yadav's rapid ascent continues to mesmerise fans and cricket pundits alike, sparking discussions about a potential inclusion in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. Whether or not he'll be able to make it, only time will tell but he's certainly thrown his hat in his debut IPL season, which in itself is no mean feat.