Nine 150kph+ deliveries: Mayank Yadav’s serious pace lights up IPL as Lucknow Super Giants defeat Punjab Kings

When Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow were in the middle, run-scoring seemed smooth for Punjab. The right-left duo put on a century partnership and were keeping the required rate under check.

Enter Mayank Yadav. The right-hander had bowled a fiery first over already, but he’d start the second with a 155.8kph delivery – the fastest of the season so far. In that over, he removed Bairstow with a short-of-length delivery that hurried on. In his third over, he bowled another quick short ball that hit Prabhsimran Singh high on the bat. He welcomed Jitesh Sharma with two sensational short ones. Perfume balls, as they are called with the batter able to smell the leather. In his final over, he removed Prabhsimran with a similar delivery.

Mayank Yadav’s speeds in the 24 balls he bowled against Punjab Kings on his debut IPL game for the Lucknow Super Giants. (Screengrab via JioCinema)

Morne Morkel revealed later that Mayank had to miss the entirety of the last IPL season after an injury in the warmup matches. Former pacer Brett Lee would tweet: ‘India has just found its fastest bowler … very impressive’. As Dhawan put it, “Mayank outsmarted us”. ”That’s the story of the night, eh? He has been through a lot in terms of injuries. It wasn’t just about bowling fast, he was accurate as well,” Nicholas Pooran added.

Krunal Pandya aces his exam

When Punjab rolled the dice to bring in Kagiso Rabada and bowl him out by 16th over, the pace responded by removing a well-set Nicholas Pooran bowled. With Lucknow not exactly boasting batting depth, it was a move that could have potentially shaved off 20-30 runs from the home team’s total.

Krunal Pandya, though, had other ideas. He made his intentions clear from the word go, starting off with a superb pull shot for six off Rabada. Krunal then targetted Harshal Patel in the 18th over. The left-hander could have easily been bowled off an inside edge that nearly hit the stumps but earned a streaky four. But he went on to make it big, smashing a four past extra cover and a six down the ground. The drive earned rich praise from one of the masters of the shot, Brian Lara, who told Krunal during the mid-innings chat: “Just wanted to tell you I loved your drive, beating the extra cover and deep point fielder, well played.”

Krunal finished with a 22-ball 43 that powered LSG to 199. “I have always prepared that way that I’ll be flexible as a batter, I am ready to go anywhere from No 3 to 7,” Krunal said. “I take it like an exam where if you study well, your paper will go well.”

An eventful day for KL Rahul

KL Rahul didn’t walk out for the toss, with Nicholas Pooran leading LSG. In an apparent move to ease Rahul back into the scheme of things, he was to be utilised as an Impact Player. For the highly scrutinised Indian batter (for his strike rate, as well as his thoughts on the subject) the only role was going to be with the bat. His brief stay in the middle turned out to be eventful though. After a typically watchful start in the first couple of overs, Rahul went after Rabada first ball. It was an early display of aggression but he got a reprieve when Harshal dropped the ball at deep square leg.

Back on strike against Arshdeep Singh next over, Rahul smashed one down the ground for a six. Next ball, he again looked to go aerial but mishit it short of mid-on. Then, another lofted shot down the ground for four. Off the fourth ball, a wristy flick that plugged in the outfield. His knock would soon end as he guided one to Jonny Bairstow at backward point. Not the greatest of impacts, but a better show of intent.