Mayank is all set for a comeback in the upcoming IPL after recovering from back surgery.
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 setback, requiring surgery to correct the issue.
Having undergone rehab at the Centre of Excellence in Bangalore, the young tearaway is now gearing up for a comeback in the upcoming IPL 2026, starting March 28.
“Everything has changed for me post-surgery. Earlier, I never used to take care of myself. Whenever I had to do a recovery session, I used to avoid it and neglect many aspects. But after the surgery, I paid a lot of attention to recovery, nutrition and sleep. The more I respect my body, the more my body respects me on the field,” Mayank said on JioStar’s ‘IPL Today Live’.
During his rehabilitation at the CoE, Mayank found a vital mentor in Jasprit Bumrah, who had previously undergone the same surgery. He referred to Bumrah as a "teacher" who helped him navigate the mental and physical hurdles of a long-term comeback.
“When I was in rehab at the NCA, Bumrah bhaiya was also there. I have a very good bonding with him. He is like a teacher to me. He also had the same surgery, the same scenario,” Mayank stated.
“Bumrah bhaiya shared his experience of how to come back after surgery and what things to pay attention to. He told me how the body will be during recovery, how it will react. Sometimes it will feel good, sometimes not. Whenever we talk on call or messages, he shares his experience as much as possible,” he added.
Mayank realized his ability to bowl at extreme pace when IPL trainers measured his speed during his debut season, acknowledging it as a "gift".
“When I came to the IPL for the first time, our trainers used to measure our bowling speed with a speed gun. At that time, I came to know that I have this talent, I have this gift. So now I have to respect it,” he said.
Mayank also highlighted the physical and mental challenges associated with fast bowling. “With fast bowling, things are always a little dicey whether you can do it or not. There is a lot of stress on the body, physically and mentally.”
Mayank Yadav was always inclined toward fast bowling since childhood, often watching videos of South African legends Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel with his father.
“When I used to play in the streets, I didn't know how to bowl spin so I used to bowl only fast bowling. My craze for fast bowling began since childhood. My father also used to show me a lot of fast bowling videos.
“Mostly, when India used to play in South Africa, I used to watch a lot of those matches. I really liked two of their pacers, our current bowling coach Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn. Through them, I got the craze to bowl fast,” he remarked.