Mayank Yadav, the Lucknow fast-bowler who’s been making waves in IPL 2024, credits his lightning speed to some sound advice from former India pacer Ishant Sharma. In a jaw-dropping display of fast-bowling prowess, Yadav smashed the IPL speed record by clocking a scorching 156.7 km/h delivery at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. This feat outdid his own previous record set against Punjab just days before.
Yadav spilled the beans during a chat with JioCinema, sharing that his seniors at Delhi, Ishant and Navdeep Saini, emphasized the importance of maintaining his speed. Yadav’s stellar performance helped Lucknow clinch a comfortable 28-run victory over Bengaluru, as he scalped three wickets while conceding just 14 runs in his four overs. With six wickets under his belt in two matches, Yadav is currently second in the race for the coveted Purple Cap.
“All the bowlers I spoke to in Delhi, Ishant bhai and Saini bhai, they all told me that even if I wanted to try anything new, I should play around my speed. If I want to add a new skill, it should be around my speed and that I don’t need to add any skills that could compromise my speed,” Yadav shared.
He stressed that his primary focus is on taking wickets rather than just raw pace. Yadav’s fiery spell saw the back of Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, and Rajat Patidar, dismantling RCB’s middle order. The young pacer from New Delhi has kickstarted his IPL 2024 campaign in stellar fashion, clinching the ‘Player of the Match’ title against Punjab Kings and RCB, leading his team to victory on both occasions.
“My attention isn’t on speed as much as it is on taking wickets and contributing to the team by taking wickets. However, it’s always in the back of my mind that when I am bowling deliveries, I need to put pace behind them. After a match, I always ask people what the highest speed was but during the match, I am only focused on my bowling,” Yadav added.
Yadav aims to maintain his impressive form throughout the tournament and could be a strong contender for a spot in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup squad.