Emerging Indian fast bowler Mayank Yadav has joined a special camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) after fully recovering from his injury. According to a report from the Times of India, selectors consider him a strong candidate for the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, starting on October 6.
Mayank made a significant impact during his debut season with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite playing only a few matches before being sidelined for the season due to injury, he consistently impressed with his ability to exceed 150 km/h.
Since then, he has been dealing with a side strain that has delayed his transition to the national team, causing him to miss white-ball tours of Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka while he recovered.
“Mayank hasn’t complained of any pain over the last month or so. He is bowling full tilt at the NCA. The selectors are interested to see how ready he is for international cricket. With the long Test season ahead, the selectors are keen on trying new faces for the T20Is against Bangladesh,” a BCCI source told the Times of India.
The special camp that Mayank Yadav is attending features players such as Riyan Parag, Hardik Pandya, and Abhishek Sharma.
“India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and bowling coach Morne Morkel highly regard Mayank from their time at Lucknow Super Giants”- BCCI source
The Indian team management has high expectations for Mayank Yadav and considers him a valuable asset. However, they recognize that his skills make him prone to injuries. To address this upon his return, the NCA team has reportedly developed a plan for his recovery.
Selectors may also consider adding Mayank to the squad for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand. The right-arm pacer has played only one first-class match in his career and has yet to be cleared to participate in the Ranji Trophy for Delhi in the upcoming domestic season.
“Mayank is bowling close to 20 overs with the white ball in three separate spells in a day. There is a strong chance of selectors picking him for the Bangladesh series after seeing him in the camp at NCA. Agarkar is slated to travel to Bengaluru to attend the inauguration of the new NCA,” the source said.
“The selectors don’t want him to be restricted to just the T20 format. Therefore, they want to carefully monitor his progress. India head coach Gautam Gambhir and bowling coach Morne Morkel rate Mayank highly since their time at Lucknow Super Giants,” the source concluded.
Gautam Gambhir was not involved in the LSG coaching staff when Mayank Yadav made his IPL debut, but he was present at the auction when the franchise signed him at his base price during the 2022 mega auction.
A second-string team, led by Suryakumar Yadav and lacking red-ball players, is anticipated to be announced for the three-match series against Bangladesh.
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