Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) head coach Justin Langer confirmed on Saturday that pace sensation Mayank Yadav will miss the rest of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to a lower abdominal tear. This news comes as a significant setback for LSG, as Yadav has been a key player in their lineup.
Yadav, a 21-year-old Delhi native, had started his maiden IPL season on a high note, taking three wickets in back-to-back matches against Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). However, his journey was marred by fitness issues, which saw him unable to complete his full quota of overs in matches against Gujarat Titans (GT) and Mumbai Indians (MI).
Mayank Yadav’s injury
The first instance of injury occurred during the match against GT, where Yadav had to leave the field after bowling just one over due to a side strain. After a four-week rehabilitation period, he returned to play against MI but suffered another breakdown after bowling 3.1 overs. This led to strong criticism from Brett Lee, a former teammate of Langer.
Langer informed the media that Yadav sustained a tear in the same area where he was injured earlier. “He’s had a scan. He’s got a small tear in a similar area to where his last one was. So, it’s very unfortunate. We saw the impact he had when he came back into the game,” the former Australia opener and head coach said.
Langer also mentioned that even the great Jasprit Bumrah has spoken about how fast bowlers will have to cope with injuries. “There will always be a lot of discussion about fast bowlers, and I know he spoke to [Jasprit] Bumrah after the game and he reassured him that if he’s going to be a fast bowler, a part of his journey as a young fast bowler, he’s going to get injuries.”
JUST IN: Fast bowler Mayank Yadav is doubtful for the remainder of #IPL2024, with LSG coach Justin Langer hoping he can be fit for the playoffs pic.twitter.com/URm7ysJlT7
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) May 4, 2024
Despite the setback, Langer praised Yadav’s rehabilitation process and expressed disappointment at his inability to play further in the tournament. “His rehabilitation was excellent. He went into the game [against MI], and had a couple of bowls before the game. He was completely pain-free. So, it’s very sad for him and it’s disappointing for LSG as well that he might not play.”
Mayank Yadav’s exit from the IPL is a significant blow for the Lucknow Super Giants. His pace and ability to take crucial wickets had made him a key player in the team. It is hoped that Yadav will recover fully and return to the field stronger than ever.
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