A die-hard fan of former South Africa speedster Dale Steyn, Mayank Yadav aims to be consistent.

“I look up to only one fast bowler, and that is Dale Steyn. He is my idol and I idolise him a lot,” Mayank, who has shaken up the IPL with fast and furious bowling in his debut game for Lucknow Super Giants, said at a media conference.

“My aim is to always remain consistent and give away less runs to help the team. Pace is a plus point for me which I try to use in a good way,” the 21-year-old added after starring in Lucknow's win over Punjab Kings on Saturday.

Mayank had played just two List A games before he was picked by Lucknow ahead of IPL 2022. But he did not play a single match in the first season and was ruled out of the next season with a torn hamstring.

Though he has missed a lot of cricket in the last two years, Mayank knows that injuries are a part of the game. “Injuries are part of fast bowlers’ life, they are your friends. I had two-three major injuries in the past one or one-and-a-half years... Those were my setbacks.

"Last season also, I missed playing in IPL because of injury. I had a side strain injury with rib fracture and that happened after the Vizay Hazare Trophy. My effort is to give more attention to recovery and to myself, in training and physically," Mayank said.

The secret to Mayank's pace lies in his affinity towards anything that moves fast. "Even in normal life, apart from cricket, I love things which have speed in them. Whether it is a rocket, aeroplane or superbike, speed excites me. In my childhood, I liked jet planes and would get inspiration from them," Mayank said.

Will his career too soar high in jet speed? Only time has that answer, but the youngster looks promising.

With inputs from PTI