Mayank rose to fame with his impressive exploits in the IPL 2024 season.
India’s pace sensation Mayank Yadav, who rose to fame with his impressive exploits in the IPL 2024 season for Lucknow Super Giants, opened up on his recovery from injuries that have plagued him.
Mayank was drafted into the Indian squad for the first time during the T20I series against Bangladesh in October last year. However, the 23-year-old encountered a back injury in his debut series.
After making recovery, Yadav returned to represent LSG again in the 2025 season but he suffered recurring back injury, requiring surgery to correct the issue.
Having undergone rehab at the Centre of Excellence in Bangalore, the young tearaway now looks to come back and claim his place in the Indian ranks.
“My recovery is going pretty well. I have started bowling and everything is on track right now," Mayank said in an exclusive chat with TOI.
“I have worked a lot on my fitness. In the upcoming season, I’ll be available for the team from day one and hope to contribute to the team’s cause, right from the word go," he added.
LSG retained the services of Mayank Yadav ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction, and he expressed his gratitude to the franchise for trusting him.
“Absolutely. It is a huge thing for me and I am thankful that despite all the setbacks due to injuries in the past 2-3 seasons, LSG is still backing me. The team, the owner, has been with me always, both on and off the field," Yadav said.
“In fact, the owner, Dr Sanjiv Goenka, gave me confidence that he’s there whenever I need it or whatever I need in my life," he continued.
Mayank could bowl in tandem with LSG’s newest acquisition, veteran seamer Mohammad Shami, who was traded in from Sunrisers Hyderabad for a sum of Rs 10 crore ahead of the auction.
“Shami Bhai was with me in rehab at the National Cricket Academy. I have known him for the last one and a half years. It will be very exciting for me to share ends with him," he stated.
Yadav credited the CoE for his experience there, where he got opportunity to spend time with Shami and ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
“I learned to take care of my body and understand it better. Interacting with players, like ‘Bumrah Bhaiyya’ who also came for rehab, was also a learning experience. He shared a lot of things with me."
Yadav, who has only played six IPL games and three T20Is for India in the past couple of years, said that he has only one goal which is to be involved in regular match action.
“I have just set myself one goal, that is to play more and more games because that is the only thing I’m missing from the last two years. The only goal I want to achieve this year is to play and contribute to my team," the pacer said.
“It was obviously a huge drawback for me as well as for the team. Though last year I was available in the second half, injuries stopped me from playing the kind of cricket I would have liked to," he said reflecting on his injuries.
“The only positive thing was the fact that LSG owner Dr Sanjiv Goenka, and captain Rishabh Pant, were there for me, and showed trust in me," he reiterated.
Mayank Yadav also looks to gain rhythm before the IPL 2026 season, something he awaits eagerly.
“It will be great for my body to be able to play a couple of matches before the IPL. I am looking forward to it," he concluded.