Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) head coach Justin Langer updated everyone on Mayank Yadav’s fitness and possible return. After LSG’s exciting win over the Mumbai Indians on Friday, he mentioned at the post-match press conference that the young fast bowler is now bowling at about 90 to 95 percent at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, and he might be back with the team soon.
“Mayank is up and running, which is great for Indian cricket and the IPL. I saw some video of him bowling yesterday at the NCA. He looked good,” Langer shared. He added that Mayank had a big impact last season, saying, “I don’t think there’s been a bowler in India as fast as him, which is why there’s so much buzz around him.”
Mayank has been out due to a back injury, and he was close to getting back earlier this season. Unfortunately, he suffered a toe injury at home, leading to an infection that set him back even more. While Langer didn’t give a specific date for his return, he hinted that Mayank is getting closer.
“He’s eager to get back. The NCA has done well with our bowlers—Avesh Khan and Akash Deep are back, and hopefully Mayank will be too,” he added.
Last season, the 21-year-old made waves in the IPL with his speed and ability to take wickets, often bowling over 150 km/h. His return would be a big lift for LSG, who have been dealing with a lot of injured bowlers since the start of IPL 2025.
LSG’s injury troubles started before the season began, with Mohsin Khan, Mayank, Avesh Khan, and Akash Deep all unavailable. They brought in veteran Shardul Thakur to strengthen their squad, and it’s worked out well. Thakur has taken seven wickets in four matches, including a crucial over against Mumbai where he only gave away seven runs while facing Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma.
Akash Deep returned on Friday, with figures of 4-0-46-1, while Avesh has played three games but has struggled a bit, managing just two wickets so far. Despite the challenges, the performances of Thakur and the return of key players have kept the team competitive.
