Mayank Yadav must be relieved now that he’s fully fit. The National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru was almost becoming his second home, as he had to frequent it since sustaining an abdominal tear, which cut short his maiden IPL season for Lucknow Super Giants.
However, after going through the rigours — bowling a sufficient number of overs and going through match simulations — for a good part of this month, the young pacer was declared fit by the NCA and rewarded with his maiden India call-up for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, beginning in Gwalior on October 6.
The India debut may well have happened earlier, especially as his 150kmph-plus thunderbolts were one of the talking points of this year’s IPL. Nevertheless, now that Mayank has recovered and is all set for his first competitive game (on October 6, if selected in the XI) since the April 30 IPL clash against Mumbai Indians, that should certainly make him feel happier.
“I won’t say Mayank is nervous, but he does have a few butterflies in his stomach, which happens to everyone before an international debut,” his coach Devendra Sharma told The Telegraph on Sunday.
“Having said that, he’s completely fit now. He has been bowling 15 overs a day there (at the NCA) and has gone through match simulations as well. When I was talking to him, he told me, ‘Sir, I’m ready... Just waiting for the opportunity.’
“He’s sounding confident, which is very important. I just told him to focus primarily on maintaining the line and length as that matters most in T20 cricket.
“Besides, since senior India pacer Mohammed Shami was also at the NCA, Mayank got a chance to speak to him too. Shami shared his experience with him besides giving a suggestion or two,” Sharma said.
At present, it’s through T20s that Mayank will have to prove he’s match fit. If he succeeds in these Bangladesh T20Is, he should be an “automatic choice” for the November 8-15 four-match T20I series in South Africa as well, sources in the BCCI stated.
At the same time, he’s not yet out of contention for the Australia tour either.
“Mayank’s blistering pace is a huge asset, so the (India) team coaches might want him to be around (for Australia) if he’s ready.
“In fact, this is also one reason why he was chosen for the Bangladesh T20Is. If he can have an IPL-like effect in the coming series, (chief selector) Ajit Agarkar and his team could well discuss about the youngster before finalising the squad for Australia,” a BCCI official said.
However, it has also been learnt that Mayank, who has so far made just one first-class appearance for Delhi in December 2022, will not be rushed into red-ball cricket. Some in the BCCI are still of the view that he may again break down if he plays red-ball games at this moment.
“Mayank is a special case, so one just cannot afford to be hasty with him. Though he’s there among the Delhi probables for this season’s Ranji Trophy, he has been advised (by the NCA) not to play Ranji as soon as it begins.
“Once the Bangladesh T20Is are over (on October 12), he will again have to return to the NCA to bowl 10 to 15 overs at a stretch in order to prove he’s ready and prepared for red-ball cricket. Bowling relentlessly in excess of 150kmph in a red-ball game isn’t easy. So, if he can clear that test, he will be given the green light,” another Board official stated.