Young Lucknow Super Giants pacer Mayank Yadav has found himself under the spotlight after a stellar performance against Royal Challengers Bangalore. His fiery pace and wicket-taking deliveries have not only propelled his team to victory but have also caught the eye of cricketing greats like Steve Smith.
Yadav’s bowling figures of 3/14 were instrumental in restricting RCB to a modest 153, paving the way for a comfortable win for LSG. His ability to consistently clock speeds exceeding 150 kmph has instilled fear in opposing batsmen, making him a force to be reckoned with in the ongoing IPL season.
Smith Commends Yadav’s Control and Consistency
Steve Smith, while commentating on the match, offered high praise for Yadav, particularly highlighting the young pacer’s control and consistency. Smith emphasized the difference between bowling a few fiery overs and maintaining effectiveness throughout a 20-over spell. He commended Yadav’s ability to consistently hit the right areas and maintain a good line â a crucial skill for young bowlers who often struggle with pace control.
“There is a difference between bowling four overs and having a ball 20 [overs]. Mayank Yadav’s growth from what I’ve seen so far is not giving much rubbish. So he’s hitting good areas, bowling a good short line and the thing with these young players that come in the poll, that kind of pace. If they spray it around a bit, that’s when you go the distance and go the journey. But at the moment, he’s just hitting such good areas. You actually have to take risks of good balls and when it’s coming down at 155 clicks, it is not an easy task,” said Smith on Star Sports.
Room for Development: Smith on Yadav’s Slower Ball Variations
Smith acknowledged the absence of slower balls in Yadav’s bowling repertoire during the match against RCB. However, Smith remained confident in Yadav’s potential to possess such variations, hinting at a well-rounded skillset under development. This suggests Smith believes Yadav can further enhance his bowling by incorporating slower deliveries to his attack.
“And you look at all those balls. There wasn’t one slower ball in there, so you don’t have to worry about that at this stage. You might have it in this armoury. We haven’t seen it yet, but you can probably trust. You can get inside the line or maybe give a bit of room and go, go use the pace and let it come to you,” Smith added.
Yadav’s Impressive Debut and Future Prospects
Smith also highlighted Yadav’s impressive follow-up to his successful debut performance. Many young players struggle to maintain consistency after an initial burst of brilliance. However, Yadav displayed commendable composure by picking up crucial wickets against established batsmen like Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, and Rajat Patidar in his second IPL match.
“The thing that impressed me is he’s played his debut game the other day. Obviously, there’d be a lot of hype around him, and you see a lot of players have that one good game and then just can’t back it up. But he’s come straight back in bold like an absolute geniusâĤ Got out Glenn Maxwell, one of the best T20 batsmen in the world, Cameron Green, an international player who plays fast bowling really well and Patidar as well. So three quality players and he’sâĤ What do they say? They remember the name,” Smith concluded.
With Steve Smith’s praise echoing in the cricketing world, Mayank Yadav has undoubtedly established himself as a player to watch. His raw pace, coupled with developing control and strategic prowess, bodes well for his future in the IPL and beyond.
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