Where is Mayank Yadav? The 156.7 kph speedster has been a headline attraction for Lucknow Super Giants since his impressive return to the spotlight in IPL 2025, yet the campaign did not last long enough for him to stay in rhythm. A prolonged injury layoff cut short his run that season, and he is still yet to take the field in IPL 2026. With the tournament moving through its early phase, LSG Global Director of Cricket Tom Moody has explained why the fast bowler has not featured so far—insisting the reason was match readiness rather than any fitness worry.
Mayank’s path back has been anything but smooth. Injuries and extended periods of rehabilitation have kept him sidelined for more than a year, and when he did get opportunities last season, it was limited. He played only two matches in IPL 2025, with his last appearance on May 4. In that outing against Punjab Kings, he conceded 60 runs, a reminder of how difficult it can be to regain full impact after a lengthy absence.
Moody clarified that the team’s planning for Mayank was shaped by his workload and comfort at the crease, not by his physical condition. “Mayank is ready to go. He didn’t come into our thinking early in the tournament because he was still a little underdone—not from a fitness point of view, as his fitness was good—but in terms of bowling loads and feeling comfortable at the crease,” Moody said.
He added that the quick bowler is now at a stage where inclusion makes sense, after the work that has gone into getting him back to match rhythm. However, that improved availability has come with a dilemma for the captain and support staff, largely because LSG’s bowling group has been holding its own. Even though the attack has been delivering strong spells, the batters have not consistently produced enough runs to give the bowlers the cushion they deserve.
“We feel he is now at that point. He has worked exceptionally hard. But that does give us a selection headache because our bowling has been pretty solid so far. We just haven’t produced the runs to support that,” Moody added, underlining the balance the team has to strike between rewarding form and reintroducing a specialist like Yadav.
In the build-up to LSG’s most recent assignment, the details of Mayank’s preparation also came into focus. Ahead of Lucknow’s match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 14, Yadav spent time on spot bowling at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, a session that pointed to his gradual return to match conditions.
Lucknow Super Giants currently occupy seventh place in the points table, and with time running on, they will be looking to turn the situation around. Their next challenge is against third-placed Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with both teams set to take the field at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday. For LSG, the match carries extra significance as they weigh whether to bring Mayank Yadav into the XI now that his readiness appears to be aligned with the team’s needs.
