How much cricket has he played? You can't wrap him in cotton wool. The BCCI was instructed to unleash Mayank following the Duleep Trophy snub.

 Mayank Yadav may have only played four matches in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, but the young Lucknow Super Giants fast bowler quickly became one of the most talked-about players in the tournament. Signed for INR 20 lakh at the auction, Mayank impressed everyone by taking seven wickets with an economical rate of 6.99. His performance included delivering the fourth-fastest ball in IPL history, clocking in at an astonishing 156.7 km/h. This led to widespread calls from veteran cricketers and experts for the BCCI to fast-track Mayank into the Indian national team. Unfortunately, his promising season was abruptly cut short by an injury.

How much cricket has he played? You can't wrap him in cotton wool. The BCCI was instructed to unleash Mayank following the Duleep Trophy snub.

It's been over three months since Mayank last played in a competitive match. He was expected to make his comeback in the ongoing Delhi Premier League (DPL), but he had to withdraw and wasn't selected for any of the teams in the opening round of the Duleep Trophy. Last week, BCCI secretary Jay Shah provided an update on Mayank's condition, stating that while he is still at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) recovering from his injury, there is no certainty about when he will return to action. This uncertainty also casts doubt on whether he will be available for the Border-Gavaskar Test series in December, despite the calls from former cricketers for his inclusion. "I cannot give you any answer on Mayank Yadav as there is no guarantee whether he will be in the team or not. But he is potentially a good fast bowler, and we are looking after him. He is currently at the NCA," Shah said.

As Mayank continues his recovery, former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey believes it's time for the BCCI to allow Mayank to resume competitive play, especially in first-class cricket. Mhambrey argues that it's essential for a young bowler like Mayank to keep bowling to develop control and understand his limits. "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," Mhambrey explained in an interview with the Indian Express. He emphasized that while it's important not to overwork Mayank and risk burning him out, it's equally crucial for him to participate in first-class cricket. "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," Mhambrey added.

Mhambrey, who still recalls Mayank's memorable dismissal of RCB batter Cameron Green during the 2024 IPL, believes that one reason for Mayank's frequent injuries is his limited experience with red-ball cricket. "You have to check his background. How much cricket has he played? How much has he bowled? Everything adds up. We need to go in depth about him, what have been his training methods? How many overs he used to bowl, his history of injuries. Going forward, fitness, technical aspects, and workload are going to be the parameters for Mayank," Mhambrey explained. He pointed out that at just 22 years old, Mayank is still in an age group that is prone to injuries, as his body is still developing. Mhambrey believes that with careful management and a deeper understanding of his background, Mayank's injuries can be controlled.