Know Everything about the sensational rising superstar of India, Cricketer Mayank Yadav, his IPL career, biography, stats, family, and fitness regime.
Cricketer Mayank Yadav, the latest sensation in the cricketing world, has been making headlines with his stellar performances on the field. Hailing from a small town, Yadav has defied the odds to establish himself as one of the most promising fast bowlers in the modern game. Mayank Yadav has achieved the feat of getting man of the match in the first two matches while making his debut in the IPL 2024. In the match against Punjab Kings, Mayank bowled 9 out of 24 balls at a speed of 150 or more. The bowling speed of one of those balls was 155.8 km per hour, which was the fastest ball of this season. Mayank had bowled that ball to Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan. After the match, Mayank said, "Even in normal life, I like speed. I like rockets, jets and superbikes. Speed gives me a thrill." In the second match with Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mayank bowled at 156.7 kilometres per hour, the fastest bowling speed of this IPL 2024 season. He has become the first player in IPL history to win the Man of the Match title in his first two matches. Mayank said after the second consecutive win, "My aim is to play for the country for as long as possible. I think this is just the beginning and my entire focus is on achieving my goal." In this article, we delve deep into the journey of Cricketer Mayank Yadav, his rise to prominence, playing style, career highlights, and much more.
Cricketer Mayank Yadav's Journey
Early Life and Family Background
Mayank Yadav's family belongs to the Supaul district of Bihar but Mayank was born in Delhi on 17 June 2002. He is from a very humble family background. His family has shifted to Delhi where his father works in a factory where sirens are made for ambulances and police vehicles. His father, a cricket enthusiast and a huge fan of West Indies bowler Curtly Ambrose, played a significant role in nurturing his son's talent and passion for the game. Yadav honed his skills by playing street cricket with his friends and idolizing legendary fast bowlers like Wasim Akram and Dale Steyn. So the journey that started from the streets of Moti Nagar, Delhi has now reached the doorstep of the national selectors and is staking a claim in the T-20 World Cup.
It was not easy at all for Mayank to reach this position. When he decided to leave school for cricket, there was an uproar at home. Till then Mayank had not been selected anywhere. He studied at SM Arya School in Punjabi Bagh, Delhi. Mayank says, "Then I told my family to give me only six months, if I can't do anything in that or I don't get selected anywhere, then I will do whatever you say."
Rise to Prominence
Cricket Beginnings
Mayank Yadav's journey in cricket began at the grassroots level, representing his school and local clubs in various tournaments. Delhi's Sonnet Cricket Academy named Mayank as 'Rajdhani Express' and in the circles of Delhi cricket, Mayank is known as the 'head-hitting bowler'. Late Sonnet Club coach Tarak Sinha had spotted the talent of the 13-year-old child. There is an interesting fact that Mayank Yadav used to think that he could not bowl fast.
He said in an interview, “When I was 14 years old, I used to practice at Sonnet Club. There, coach (Tarak Sinha) sir gave me the ball and asked me to bowl to my age group boys, where they were practising, and when I bowled them, they got very excited. I was having trouble, and then the coach told me to practice with senior people. At that time, Coach Sir told me that you bowl very fast as per your age group." Then for the first time, Mayank Yadav realized he could bowl fast.
Mayank did not get a chance to play Under-14 and Under-16 for Delhi. In the year 2020, Mayank Yadav rejected the offer of playing and a job from the Services team. Coach Tarak Sinha got angry with Mayank regarding this matter. Mayank Yadav somehow assured him that someday he would get a chance in the Delhi team. But unfortunately, coach Tarak Sinha died in 2021 due to COVID-19. A month after his departure, Mayank was included in the Delhi team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Breakthrough Moments
The turning point in Mayank Yadav's career came during the Ranji Trophy season, where he showcased his potential by consistently delivering match-winning performances. His ability to generate steep bounce and seam movement troubled even the most seasoned batsmen, earning him accolades from cricket pundits and fans alike.
Mayank has so far played one first-class match for Delhi in which he has taken two wickets. Apart from this, Mayank has taken 34 wickets in 17 List-A matches. Whereas he has 18 wickets in his name in 13 T-20 matches.
In this IPL season, Mayank took three wickets for just 14 runs in 4 overs against Royal Challengers Bangalore and in the previous match he had taken three wickets for 27 runs against Punjab. It is not that he just bowls fast, but there is also variation in his balls. This is the reason why he is considered a perfect pacer. Right now Mayank Yadav's stats are quite low but as his matches increase, we are sure that the numbers will also increase significantly.
Playing Style and Techniques
Mayank Yadav possesses all the attributes of a modern-day fast bowler – speed, accuracy, and aggression. His smooth run-up and high-arm action enable him to generate express pace and extract bounce from any surface. Morne Morkel, one of South Africa's fastest bowlers, is the bowling coach of Lucknow Supergiants. Mayank is often seen talking with him for hours. This obviously helps him in honing his skills. Apart from his raw pace, Yadav has also developed a repertoire of bowling variations, including the bouncer, yorker, and reverse swing. His ability to mix up his deliveries keeps the batsmen guessing and adds an extra dimension to his bowling arsenal.
Comparisons with Other Bowlers and Bowling Speed
Inevitably, comparisons have been drawn between Cricketer Mayank Yadav and other renowned fast bowlers of his generation. While earlier India has had legendary and dangerous bowlers like Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, Ashish Nehra, and Umesh Yadav, now the time has come for fast bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mayank Yadav to emerge from the league. While some liken his aggressive bowling style to Mitchell Johnson, others see shades of Jasprit Bumrah's unorthodox action in his delivery stride. He is often compared to Umran Malik who bowled his fastest ball in the IPL last year at a speed of 157 kilometres per hour. Apart from this, in the history of IPL, Short Tait held the record for bowling at a speed of 157.7 kilometres per hour. But Mayank Yadav bowled at a speed of 156.7 kilometres per hour which is the fastest ball in this IPL season. Well, these comparisons will continue but if Mayank Yadav wants to make a long and successful career in the Indian cricket team, then he will have to keep performing and delivering with consistency. With time, Mayank Yadav's bowling speed will also improve a lot and who knows, maybe one day he will break Shoaib Akhtar's record of highest bowling speed of 161 Kilometers per hour.
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| Lucknow Super Giants Team Members |
Joining Lucknow Super Giants
Impact on the Team
Yadav's inclusion in the Lucknow Super Giants squad has bolstered their bowling attack and added depth to their lineup. Lucknow Super Joints bought him in the year 2022 at the base price of Rs 20 lakh. But he did not get a chance to play that year. Many people are saying that Mayank Yadav was kept behind bars for two years. But the truth is that last year he was not completely fit. But instead of going home, stay connected with the team so that you can learn something new from the other players. Performing in IPL is considered a sure ticket to the international team. Defeating international-level batsmen means that Mayank Yadav is now close to entering Team India. The selectors will be keeping a keen eye. It should not be surprising if he is selected for the T20 World Cup team. His ability to strike early and pick up crucial wickets in the powerplay overs has been instrumental in the team's success.
Future Prospects
With age on his side and a hunger for success, Mayank Yadav's future in cricket looks incredibly promising. A huge discussion has started in the name of Mayank Yadav that he should get a chance in the T20 World Cup. The T20 World Cup is to be organized jointly by the West Indies and America in June this year. Mayank has played only two matches, but the market for headlines has become hot. Famous South African pacer Kagiso Rabada has said that he is seeing Mayanak Yadav playing in the T20 World Cup. As he continues to refine his skills and gain valuable experience at the highest level, he is destined to achieve greater heights and leave a lasting legacy in the sport.
Who is Mayank Yadav?
Mayank Yadav is a talented right-arm fast bowler known for his raw pace and ability to swing the ball both ways. Despite facing several challenges early in his career, Yadav's determination and hard work have propelled him to the forefront of Indian cricket. These days Mayank Yadav's name is buzzing everywhere. His teammates, the veteran players, fans and cricket experts have also become crazy about him and praise him a lot. Mayank has so far taken 6 wickets in 2 matches in IPL 2024 and has stunned the cricket world with his sensational bowling speed of 156.7 km per hour. Mayank Yadav bowled out the Punjab Kings batsmen at a speed of 150 km per hour in the very first over of his IPL career. Jonny Bairstow smiled after missing the ball when he came into the crease. Mayank had clean-bowled RCB captain Faf du Plessis. Mayank has so far bowled out powerful batsmen like Jonny Bairstow, Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell with his sensational bowling.
There is an interesting story behind Mayank's becoming a fast pacer that his father Prabhu Yadav, who was a huge fan of Curtly Ambrose, tells with pride. One day he was returning from the factory. Instead of going home directly, he reached the college ground where his son was training at the famous Sonnet Club. Players like Ashish Nehra, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, and Ayush Badoni have emerged from this academy of famous coach Tarak Sinha. That day, Prabhu Yadav told Mayank one thing that the son had kept in a knot, "Do you know why people are afraid of Curtly Ambrose? Because he used to bowl on the head. If you want batsmen to be afraid of you, then you should do the same."
Mayank Yadav's Personal Life
Beyond his exploits on the cricket field, Mayank Yadav is known for his humble demeanour and down-to-earth personality. While most fast bowlers are known for their aggression and outspokenness, Mayank Yadav is of a very gentle nature. He tries not to be involved in any argument. Apart from this, he is an ardent devotee of Lord Shri Krishna and has also become a complete vegetarian a few years ago, perhaps he has received this gentleness from Lord Krishna. He remains grounded despite his rising fame and often engages with fans and supporters through social media. Yadav enjoys a significant following on social media platforms, where he regularly shares insights into his training routines, personal life, and off-field interests.
Mayank Yadav's Inspirations
Throughout his journey, Cricketer Mayank Yadav has drawn inspiration from his family, coaches, and fellow cricketers who have supported and motivated him along the way. Yadav is a huge fan of former South Africa's pacer Dale Steyn. He gives credit to two people the most in shaping his career, his father Mr Prabhu Yadav and his coach Tarak Sinha. Their guidance and encouragement have played a pivotal role in shaping his career and instilling in him the values of hard work and perseverance.
Training and Fitness Regime
Mayank Yadav's success on the cricket field can be attributed in part to his rigorous training regimen and unwavering commitment to fitness. Earlier, he was skinny but worked hard on himself and did rigorous training to become a strong athlete. The secret of his bullet-paced deliveries is discipline training in the gym and on the ground, cardio, good sleep and a vegetarian diet. Mayank believes a proper nutritious diet is crucial for fast bowlers whether it's vegetarian or not but he prefers veg. He spends countless hours in the gym honing his strength and conditioning, ensuring that he remains at the peak of his physical abilities. Mayank never compromises on his diet and sleep. Mayank revealed in an interview that he uses cooling techniques like ice baths often for muscle recovery and to stay calm and fit.
Fan Following
Mayank Yadav's meteoric rise has garnered him a loyal fan following, with fans admiring his passion for the game and his never-say-die attitude. Whether he's bowling fiery spells on the field or interacting with supporters off it, Yadav's charisma and charm leave a lasting impression on everyone he encounters. His interaction with fans and candid posts on Instagram have endeared him to cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Cricketer Mayank Yadav's journey from obscurity to stardom serves as an inspiration to aspiring cricketers worldwide. His exploits on the field are often dissected and analyzed in cricketing circles, further cementing his status as a rising star in the sport. With his lethal bowling skills, charismatic personality, and unwavering determination, Yadav has carved a niche for himself in the annals of cricketing history.
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