Mayank delivered a Player-of-the-Match performance in the first T20I against Zimbabwe.
Veteran India batter Hanuma Vihari has advised fast bowler Mayank Yadav to leave the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to secure more consistent game time following a poor IPL 2026 campaign, where he went wicketless in four matches.
While advocating for a move, Vihari acknowledged a "loyalty factor" due to LSG previously supporting the young tearaway through surgery and grooming.
Vihari’s comment came after Mayank delivered a Player-of-the-Match performance in the first T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare on Thursday (July 23).
"These guys should get more opportunities in the IPL. For example, Mayank Yadav missed out last season because there were also Prince Yadav, Mohsin Khan, and Avesh Khan in LSG, so you can miss out. If he moves out of LSG, he will get more chances and can play consistently," Vihari said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
"But one thing about LSG is that they retained him even if he was not able to play all games, took care of his surgery and have groomed him, so definitely the loyalty factor will be there," he added.
During the T20I series opener against Zimbabwe, Mayank returned with the figures of 2 for 18 in his four overs. The 24-year-old speedster dismissed Brian Bennett with his very first delivery on India comeback, and followed it with the wicket of Ben Curran in his third over.
"So these two years, it was a long, long time, eagerly waiting to play again in Blues. I think today when I took a wicket in the very first ball, it summarised everything from two years, so it feels great now. It was very tough, but at the same time, what I feel, it was very important for me also," Mayank said in a video posted by the BCCI.
Mayank Yadav will be in action next when India face Zimbabwe in the second T20I at Harare Sports Club on Saturday (July 25).