RCB wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik had some funny banter with former England captain Nasser Hussain as they were discussing his duel with new pace sensation Mayank Yadav in IPL 2024’s recent match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Karthik heaped admiration on the young fast bowler, highlighting what makes him truly unique. Mayank bowled the fastest delivery of the IPL 2024 against RCB last week, registering in at 156.7 kilometres per hour. The 21-year-old went on to take six wickets in three matches before suffering a minor injury against GT on Sunday, April 7.
Karthik claimed Mayank's bowling length is what distinguishes him, naming him the fastest bowler he has faced this year. Mayank set the season's shortest delivery record against Punjab on his debut and then broke it against RCB.
Aside from consistently bowling above 150 kph, Mayank was also precise with his line and length, taking six wickets while conceding only 41 runs in the first two games.
“Very quick. Luckily or unluckily, I got out to him on the second ball. Thanks to technology, I skipped that bullet and just went over the stumps. The umpire gave it out. He's quick, and he's sharp. But the good thing about him is that generally, people who come and bowl at that kind of pace over a period of time are very inconsistent with their length.
He's really good with his length, which is what makes him really special. So far, he's the quickest bowler I have faced this year. It was a bit like, wow, that's sharp,” said Karthik on the Sky Sports podcast.
Hussain then teased Karthik about how he left the first ball he faced from Mayank, while Karthik joked that he was thinking of Hussain as Yadav was running to bowl at him.
“When the bowler was running, I was thinking about you for a second there, so I went for the back-foot leave,” Karthik told Hussain.
