Mayank has the X-factor, important to manage him well: Suryakumar Yadav

Mayank Yadav made his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut in the 2024 season and took the tournament by storm, featuring for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). He snapped figures of 3/27 (vs Punjab Kings) and 3/14 (vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru) in his first two matches and picked up the Player of the Match on both occasions. His ability to clock 150 kph and bounce out top batters was a breath of fresh air and put him on the radar of the national selectors right away. 

However, Mayank soon went down with an abdominal injury, which restricted his season to four matches in IPL 2024. The 22-year-old has not been seen in action since but is set to return to the field in India’s upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, where he will likely make his international debut. 

India’s T20I skipper, Suryakumar Yadav, has given his thumbs up to Mayank’s selection, calling the right-arm seamer an X-factor. 

"He definitely has the X factor - it was evident when he played franchise cricket. He has that extra pace," Surya said ahead of the first T20I against Bangladesh in Gwalior.

The skipper mentioned that he has yet to face the speedster in the nets but is aware of the impact Mayank's pace can cause. 

“I didn't face him in the nets; our net plan was such that someone else faced him. But I have seen what potential he has and what difference he can make for the team. From that point of view, I feel he is a good addition to the Indian team and I am hoping he will do well,” Surya said. 

Surya added that it is important to manage him well, given that he is injury-prone. "It's important to manage him well because of the amount of cricket being played. Everyone is playing for their state, too. There was the Duleep Trophy recently. So it is important to pay proper attention, and the BCCI is doing that."

The first T20I will be played in Gwalior’s Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, which will also be the venue’s debut in any form of recognized cricket. Hence, the conditions are uncertain. 

While Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy has hinted at a low-scoring game, Surya believes there will be plenty of runs on the track. 

"The pitch looks good. We practised on the centre wicket, just two pitches away. We didn't find it that low and slow - we practised all three days. So it [the match pitch] should not be much different.

"For T20 cricket, these are good wickets. There will be good competition, but at the same time, it looks good [for run-scoring]. The rest we will get to know tomorrow.

"Yes, it's a new ground, but having practised here for three days, we know what the conditions are, how the pitch is, how the outfield is, what the wind factor is like, whether the dew settles in or not. We will like to play the way we did in the last T20I series. And if everyone does their job, you will get the desired results."

The skipper also spoke on the team’s increased depth in the all-rounder’s department. India used plenty of bowling options in Sri Lanka recently, including Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube as a new ball bowler, and Surya himself taking the ball in the third T20I. 

"I think there is hardly anyone in this squad who doesn't bowl. That gives you more bowling options on the ground. As you saw in Sri Lanka, Riyan [Parag] bowled four overs. If someone says he can bowl in the pressure situation, then why not,” Surya answered. 

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