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Mayank Yadav is set to join Lucknow Super Giants’ IPL 2025 squad after being declared fit by BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. Despite injuries, he is expected to make a strong comeback.
Mayank Yadav (Photo Credit: Sportzpics)
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are set to receive a big boost with tearaway quick Mayank Yadav reportedly declared fit and set to join their IPL 2025 squad on Tuesday. According to India Today, BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru has given him the green light to join the LSG squad and start playing, though the team’s coaching staff will take the ‘final call’ on his comeback timeline.
Mayank was at the CoE due to a lumbar stress injury he was carrying before the season started. He was expected to recover by the second week of April, but a toe injury delayed that. Last week, LSG head coach Justin Langer spoke about how the pacer was working ‘very hard’ to get back.
“He’s working very hard at the NCA (CoE’s old name). and I saw some video of him bowling yesterday — he was bowling at about 90 to 95%. So, Mayank’s up and running, which is great for Indian cricket. For the IPL, we saw the impact he had last year. I don’t think there’s been a bowler in India who’s bowled faster than Mayank Yadav. And that’s why there’s so much talk about him,” Langer said.
The coach added, “He’s up, he’s keen to get going, he bowled well in Bengaluru at the NCA. I think there are a couple of other bowlers at the NCA as well, and hopefully, the NCA — credit to them — have done a very good job. They’ve got Avesh back for us, they’ve got Akash Deep back for us, so we really appreciate the work they’re doing to get the boys back playing. Hopefully, now Mayank too.”
Mayank made his IPL debut last year and despite playing just four matches, it was considered his breakthrough season. He took six wickets and notched pace consistently upwards of 150kph with excellent control — something that had not been seen before in the country.
Though he was ruled out of the season midway through, he made his India comeback after a break, playing three T20Is. LSG retained him for Rs. 11 crore before this season.
The franchise would love to have him back when they are quite decently placed at fourth in the points table. They’ll play against CSK on Monday at home before traveling to Jaipur to clash with Rajasthan Royals on April 19.
