According to sources, Mayank Yadav, a fast bowler for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), will be absent from the first half of IPL 2025. It has been reported that he is currently recovering from a lumbar stress injury and has recently begun bowling again at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The injury occurred after his debut with the Indian team during the T20I series against Bangladesh in October last year.
The BCCI has not yet announced a definite date for Mayank’s return. However, if he meets the required fitness standards and gradually increases his bowling workload, there is a possibility of him playing in the latter part of the IPL.
Unfortunately for LSG, Mayank will not be able to play in the first half of the tournament, despite being retained for an impressive sum of INR 11 crore ($1.31 million approx.) in the mega auction. This was a significant increase from his initial purchase price of INR 20 lakh as an uncapped fast bowler prior to the 2024 season.
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Mayank’s commanding salary was mainly due to his knack for consistently bowling at breakneck speeds, exceeding 150kph. This impressive feat earned him consecutive Player-of-the-Match accolades in his first two IPL matches. Recognizing his potential talent, the national selectors included Mayank among the fast-bowling contracts pool.
Mayank’s appearance in IPL 2024 was cut short to only four matches due to a lingering side strain that affected his last two games. During his rehabilitation period, he suffered an additional injury which postponed his return but he was able to make it back for the Bangladesh T20Is. Unfortunately, he encountered another injury right after and had to resume rehab once again. Although the BCCI has not officially disclosed the specifics of Mayank’s condition, it is believed that he has sustained a stress-related injury on the left side of his lower back.
During February, ex-Indian cricketer Zaheer Khan, now serving as LSG’s team director, mentioned collaborating with the BCCI medical team to create a plan for Mayank’s comeback. However, he emphasized that he would only want a completely healthy Mayank back on the field. “As much as we desire him to play in IPL 2025, our main priority is his full recovery and not just partial,” he had stated.
LSG will kick off their season against Delhi Capitals on March 24 in Visakhapatnam, with newly appointed captain Rishabh Pant at the helm.
