Speedster Mayank Yadav is all set to return to the Lucknow Super Giants camp after recovering from injury, but there’s a catch—his availability for matches is still up in the air.
According to India Today, the 21-year-old fast bowler has been declared fit and will join the squad on Tuesday. However, it’ll be up to the LSG coaching staff to decide when—or if—he takes the field this season.
Mayank was retained for ₹11 crore ahead of IPL 2025 but had to sit out the first half of the tournament while recovering at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. Now that he’s back, LSG has to figure out how to fit him into a squad that’s suddenly spoilt for choice in the pace department.
🚨 GOOD NEWS FOR LUCKNOW 🚨
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 14, 2025
– Mayank Yadav is likely to join the LSG squad tomorrow. [Sports Tak] pic.twitter.com/iPfRqP1ahb
LSG started the season short on fast bowlers, but things have turned around. Akashdeep and Avesh Khan are back in action, and Shardul Thakur—brought in as a replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan—has stepped up big time. Thakur grabbed two more wickets against Gujarat Titans and now sits second in the Purple Cap race with 11 wickets, just behind CSK’s Noor Ahmad.
Mayank’s return could give LSG’s bowling unit even more bite. His raw pace, which once touched 156.7 kmph, made headlines in previous seasons. If he’s match-ready, his inclusion could be a game-changer.
LSG are already riding high after a convincing six-wicket win over Gujarat Titans. Nicholas Pooran (61 off 34) and Aiden Markram led the charge with half-centuries, pushing the team to its fourth win in six games. Pooran now tops the Orange Cap chart with 349 runs, while Mitchell Marsh, who missed the last game due to a family emergency, sits in third place with 265.
On the bowling side, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, and Thakur contained Gujarat’s batting lineup with smart spells, keeping LSG firmly in control.
In the points table, LSG are currently in third, while CSK remains at the bottom with just a solitary win in six outings. Historically, LSG have the upper hand in terms of head-to-head matchups as they have beaten CSK three out of the five times that they have faced each other.
Mayank Yadav’s return brings another delicious turn in an already tempting LSG campaign — but fans will have to wait and see when he finally steps onto the pitch.
Read Also: Hardik Deserves the Praise, Not Rohit”: Manjrekar Weighs In on MI’s Win Over DC
