"The way he got out, I felt he was scared"- Paras Mhambrey highlights Cameron Green's IPL 2024 dismissal to hail Mayank Yadav
Former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey revealed how Mayank Yadav's dismissal of Australian all-rounder Cameron Green in IPL 2024 convinced him that the young pacer is something special. Mayank burst onto the scene in the 2024 IPL season for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) with his ability to clock speeds of over 150 kph.
The 22-year-old produced a sensational spell of 3/27 in four overs on IPL debut against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) to help LSG comeback and win by 21 runs. However, the following game against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) caught Mhambrey's eye.
Defending 181, Mayank bagged the crucial wickets of Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, and Cameron Green in another fiery spell of 3/14 in four overs to help LSG win by 28 runs.
After removing Maxwell in his first over, Mayank cleaned Green up with a delivery clocked at 156 kph.
In a conversation with the Indian Express, Paras Mhambrey recalled that moment as a revelation and felt even a high-class batter like Cameron Green looked intimidated.
"One dismissal says it all. That wicket was enough for me to say whoa! This kid is special. Green is a quality player and has played all his life on bouncy Australian surfaces but the way he got out, I felt he was scared. He was caught on the crease and done in with pace. That dismissal was one thing but the couple of balls Mayank bowled before that tells you about his skillset," said Mhambrey.
Despite the back-to-back sensational outings to begin his IPL career, Mayank Yadav played only two more games before being sidelined by an abdominal strain injury.
The Delhi-born youngster displayed a rare combination of speed and accuracy in the limited time, picking up seven wickets in four matches at an average of 12.14 and an economy of under 7.
"I don’t agree that if he is not ready, just don’t play him" - Paras Mhambrey
Paras Mhamrey dismissed the notion of managing Mayank Yadav and not regularly playing him in first-class cricket.
The 22-year-old has not played competitive cricket since those four IPL games earlier this year. Mayank has also not been picked in any of the four Duleep Trophy squads and has pulled out of the maiden Delhi Premier League to complete his recovery from injury.
"I don’t agree that if he is not ready, just don’t play him. This is the age where he has to bowl. A bowler should bowl. The more you bowl, the more you will have control, you will know your threshold as to how much your body can take. You can’t wrap him up in cotton wool saying he will get injured. We can’t overbowl and burn him out but we have to be smart about how much he should bowl. As a fast bowler, he needs to play first-class cricket," said Mhambrey.
He continued:
"When you play one season, you understand your bowling. You bowl in different conditions. Physically, you will be tested in different phases of the game. Sometimes, you will have to be on the ground for six sessions. And to be able to bowl with the same intensity in the last session will give you confidence when you play at the international level. I strongly feel Mayank needs to grind it out in the domestic season."
Despite playing 17 first-class and 14 T20 games, Mayank Yadav has played only the lone first-class encounter for Delhi.