Former Australian pacer Brett Lee adviced Lucknow Super Giants sensation Mayak Yadav to go slow and not t rush as far as the latter’s cricket is concerned.
New Delhi: Former Australian pacer rated young sensation Mayank Yadav as the ‘next big thing’ for India and opined that the Lucknow Super Giants fast bowler should be taken care off in the right manner. The 21-year-old burst onto the scene in the ongoing Indian Premier League with his raw pace and control. He consistently clocked 150 kmph in each of the three games he played before suffering an abdominal strain against Gujarat Titans on April 7.
Yadav was immediately sidelined for almost two weeks, forcing him to miss five games in the process. However, he returned against Mumbai Indians, bowled with great speed (140 kmph to be accurate) and took a wicket too. But the LSG pacer could bowl only 3.1 overs before leaving the field again. Providing an update, LSG head coach Justin Langer confirmed the youngster felt sore on the same spot again.
Lee, a fast bowler himself during his playing days, advised Yadav to go slow and not to rush on things. “Unfortunately, I felt that he has been rushed to bowling again after injury. I have had a side strain, two muscle tears in my life, which is unheard off for a fast bowler,” Lee continued, responding to a query from India.com at a promotional event at the Australian High Commission in the Capital on Thursday.
“But I know after a side muscle tear, it takes a long time and doesn’t take two weeks to recover. You have to take proper rest and that’s where the power comes from,” added the 47-year-old, who had won 2003 World Cup and two ICC Champions Trophy – 2006 and 2009 – in the Australian jersey.
With the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj to name a few, ruling the Indian fast bowling currently, Lee felt Yadav is the star in the making. “He is the next best thing for India. I have said this before that I am looking forward to watching him bowl. I didn’t even bowl at 150kmps at that time, honestly. He has got more pace,” added the 2012 IPL winner with Kolkata Knight Riders.
Meanwhile, Yadav has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing IPL season. In four games of IPL 2024, Mayank has taken seven wickets at an average of 12.14 and an economy rate of 6.98, with the best bowling figures of 3/14.