Pace sensation Mayank Yadav makes memorable international debut

India’s newest pace sensation, Mayank Yadav, had a memorable debut in the blue colours during India’s first T20I against Bangladesh in Gwalior on Sunday, living up to the high expectations with his express pace.

Mayank first made waves during this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL), taking seven wickets in four games in an injury-affected season with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). During these matches, Mayank consistently hit speeds between 140-150 km/h, claiming big wickets such as those of Jonny Bairstow and Glenn Maxwell. His performances created excitement among fans, who eagerly awaited his return from injury.

The 22-year-old finally made his much-anticipated debut for India in Gwalior. In his four overs, he took one wicket for 21 runs at an economy rate of 5.20. Mayank set the speed guns on fire with several of his deliveries. While he didn’t break the 150 km/h mark, he consistently hit 140 km/h on 17 out of the 24 balls he bowled. His average pace was 138.7 km/h due to a few slower balls, as reported by Wisden.

1st Over: Mayank’s first over was a maiden, with his fastest delivery clocking in at 147.6 km/h and the slowest at 138 km/h. His average speed for the over was 142.5 km/h. He began with a 141.9 km/h delivery to Towhid Hridoy, increasing his pace to 145.1 km/h on the next ball. The rest of his over featured a mix of speeds: 138 km/h, 147.3 km/h, 135.2 km/h, and 147.6 km/h. He became only the third Indian bowler to start his T20I career with a maiden.

In the second over, his fastest delivery was 149.9 km/h, while the slowest was 113.3 km/h, with an average speed of 140.1 km/h. He started the over with a 148.8 km/h rocket. On the next ball, delivered at 146.1 km/h, veteran all-rounder Mahmudullah lost his wicket to Mayank, caught by Washington Sundar at deep point. His fastest ball in this over was bowled to Jaker Ali at 149.9 km/h, and he dropped his pace to 113.3 km/h while bowling to captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. He concluded the over with deliveries of 142.7 km/h and 140 km/h, conceding only three runs.

3rd Over: The third over was a bit more expensive, with Mayank conceding 15 runs. His fastest delivery was clocked at 147.7 km/h, and his slowest at 140.7 km/h, with an average speed of 145 km/h. This over was the 13th of the game. Mehidy Hasan Miraz pushed the first ball (140.7 km/h) and cut the second ball (143.6 km/h) to the fence. He took a single off the next ball, bowled at 148.4 km/h. Mayank continued with deliveries clocking 147.7 km/h and 146.7 km/h, but Rishad Hossain hit one for four and another for six. Mayank’s final ball of the over was bowled at 142.8 km/h, which Rishad missed.

4th Over: Mayank made a fine comeback in his final over, conceding just three runs. His fastest delivery was 146.5 km/h, and his slowest was 106.2 km/h, with an average pace of 127 km/h. With Bangladesh down to nine wickets, Mayank looked for one more scalp. He played the quicker-slower card, delivering a 145.6 km/h ball followed by a 106.2 km/h delivery. He maintained this strategy with deliveries of 145.1 km/h, 111.5 km/h, 145.8 km/h, and 107.8 km/h but couldn’t pick up another wicket.

In the match, India won the toss and opted to bowl first. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (27 runs off 25 balls, 1 four and 1 six) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (35* runs off 32 balls, 3 fours) were the top scorers for the visitors, injecting a small spark into an otherwise struggling innings. Bangladesh was bundled out for 127 runs in 19.5 overs.

Arshdeep Singh (3/14) was the pick of the bowlers for India. Varun Chakravarthy took three wickets for 31 runs in his return to the side after 2021. Pace sensation Mayank Yadav, Washington Sundar, and Hardik Pandya each claimed a wicket.

Chasing 128, Abhishek Sharma (16 off seven balls) was run out due to a miscommunication. However, Sanju Samson (29 off 19 balls with six fours) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (29 off 14 balls, with two fours and three sixes) stitched a 40-run partnership for the second wicket. Hardik Pandya then sealed the win for India with a 52-run stand for the fourth wicket alongside debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy (16* off 15 balls, with one six).