Zaheer Khan stated they wanted Mayank Yadav to get 150% fit.
Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Lucknow Super Giants mentor Zaheer Khan has stated that they are working along with the medical staff at NCA to ensure pacer Mayank Yadav is 150% fit before his comeback.
Yadav is currently at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru after suffering an injury before the T20I trip to South Africa in November 2024.
He drew everyone's attention in the Indian Premier League 2024 (IPL 2024) with his terrifying pace, which disturbed batters and earned him back-to-back Player of the Match accolades against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. However, due to frequent ailments, he was only able to play four matches this season.
Ahead of the forthcoming IPL 2025 season, Zaheer Khan indicated that he is in close contact with the NCA medical experts regarding his recovery plan, adding that Mayank is crucial not just for LSG but also for Indian cricket.
"We have had some interesting conversations around his roadmap to recovery and fitness with NCA, so we're working with them. We hope for their support as well, them buying into the philosophy of really looking after a youngster because he is not only important for LSG, he is important for Indian cricket as well," said Zaheer to reporters as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
Khan mentioned that he is always working on a plan to allow Mayank to play for longer periods without taking rests due to injuries. He also stated that they do not want to hurry him into playing in the upcoming season and will only field him when he is 150% fit.
"You know a bowler of his caliber, to be able to play consistently for the long term, that is where I am trying to put in all my efforts and energy, in terms of giving him the best environment, which will really help him play longer without really taking these breaks. I think that is really important, and that is the outlook that we have. So as much as we are keen on having him [play IPL 2025], we want him 150 percent fit, not just 100 percent fit, so we will do everything possible to get him there," he added.
Thanks to an impressive IPL season, Mayank Yadav made his India T20I debut against Bangladesh and took four wickets in three matches. Despite his injury concerns, LSG showed faith in the young speedster and retained him for a whopping Rs 11 crore for IPL 2025.