Mayank Yadav’s Rollercoaster Return to IPL 2025
Every Lucknow Super Giants fan had their eyes on one name for IPL 2025—Mayank Yadav. This 22-year-old pace sensation was building a serious buzz before injuries infected his promising run. He sat out for months dealing with a tricky back issue and a toe infection, spending countless hours in recovery at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. With all the build-up, LSG’s April 16 announcement about his availability for the Rajasthan Royals game looked like the real comeback moment everyone hoped for.
Yadav wore the comeback hopes of a whole franchise and the expectations of fans craving the speedster who’d clocked 156.7 km/h not that long ago. But things never quite go as planned in cricket, do they? Even after being named on LSG’s Impact Player list for the Delhi Capitals match, fate threw a curveball. A disastrous batting collapse forced the team to reshuffle their strategy, and Yadav never got the chance to take the field that night.
Injury Frustrations and LSG’s Replacement Call
LSG coach Justin Langer remained hopeful, suggesting Yadav was bowling at near full tilt—somewhere around 90-95% of his best. But the numbers told their own story. Yadav managed speeds hovering between 130 and 140 km/h in limited appearances—far shy of last year’s blistering pace. Fans worried. LSG hoped. Then, the worst: Yadav’s back flared up again, sending him back to the medical room and out of the tournament for the rest of the season. Not the comeback anyone wanted.
LSG acted fast, signing Australian left-armer Will O’Rourke as his replacement. The move was a big shift, trading express Indian pace for a towering Aussie swing bowler. Could O’Rourke fill the gap? He’s got skill, but LSG will miss the energy and x-factor Yadav brought—especially considering he’d already taken two wickets in just two games before bowing out.
For Yadav, this is another frustrating pause. He got his India debut in late 2024 against Bangladesh but then missed all domestic cricket due to similar niggles. Now, yet another setback threatens to slow his rise. Still, his raw talent is enough for LSG to keep the faith—fans just hope his body finally lets his potential shine on the big stage soon.
