Tearaway Mayank emerges as India’s new pace sensation

NEW DELHI: Mayank Yadav stayed patient over the last two years as injury delayed his Indian Premier League debut but the 21-year-old has now emerged as cricket’s latest pace sensation and is being touted as a potential wildcard for India’s test tour of Australia.

Lucknow Super Giants brought the speedster onboard in 2022 but he did not play a single match that season and a torn hamstring kept him out of last year’s tournament. Making his delayed IPL debut against Punjab Kings on Saturday, Mayank claimed 3-27, rattling the likes of England batter Jonny Bairstow with his express speed. He hurled a 155.8kph thunderbolt in that match to register the league’s fastest ball this season, prompting West Indian Ian Bishop to say he bowled “like a child of the wind”.

Further proof of his fiery pace came in Tuesday’s victory against Royal Challengers Bengaluru when he claimed 3-14 with Australians Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green among his victims.