Mayank Yadav, making his IPL debut, emerged as an unexpected hero with his remarkable speed and three crucial wickets, guiding Lucknow Super Giants to their inaugural season victory on Saturday.
Lucknow clinched a 21-run victory against Punjab Kings at their home ground, setting a target of 199-8 thanks to Quinton de Kock’s half-century and an explosive 42 by stand-in captain Nicholas Pooran.
Despite a strong start by Punjab, with skipper Shikhar Dhawan scoring 70 and Jonny Bairstow contributing 42 in their 102-run opening partnership, Yadav’s express pace turned the tide. His fastest delivery of the season, clocking 155.8km/h, dismantled the partnership by dismissing Bairstow and finishing with impressive figures of 3-27.
Hailing from Delhi, Yadav was acquired by Lucknow for a modest 20 Lakh INR last year, but his potential was hampered by injury, sidelining him for the entire 2023 season.
Yadav showcased resilience after a challenging first over, eventually trapping Bairstow with a well-executed short ball that resulted in a miscue to deep mid-wicket.
The 21-year-old prodigy continued his onslaught, claiming two more crucial wickets to derail Punjab’s pursuit of victory. Meanwhile, former Australia pacer Brett Lee and South Africa’s Dale Steyn were in awe of the Indian pacer. They shared their reaction on X.
Mayank Yadav – remember the name!🔥💥#LSGvsPBKS #IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/OJPqkIjFOY
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 31, 2024
