Lucknow Super Giants have been dealt with by a heavy blow ahead of IPL 2025. Their star pacer Mayank Yadav is all set to miss the first half of the season due to back injury. The pacer who created a sensation with his pace in IPL 2024 has been facing problems with his back since the last season.
ESPN Cricinfo has reported that Mayank is recovering from a lumbar stress injury and has just resumed bowling at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He has been under rehab since India's T20I series against Bangladesh in October last year.
His return to IPL 2025 is yet not confirmed. However, if he meets the fitness standards of the experts he should be back in the team in the latter half of the season. Mayank was retained by LSG for 11 crores ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. He was roped in by the franchise for just 20 lakhs but was retained at a whopping price ahead of the mega auction.
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LSG Retained Mayank Yadav For 11 Crores Ahead Of IPL 2025 Mega Auction
Mayank picked up seven wickets from four games in IPL 2024 before he picked up his back injury and was ruled out from the second half of the tournament last season. After getting fit, he made his T20I debut against Bangladesh last year where he picked up four wickets in three matches.
The young pacer made a telling impact in the first few games he played in IPL 2024. He was named Man of the Match in the first three games he played for the franchise last season. His tearaway pace paved his path for his India debut in the T20I format. However, he has been an injury-ridden pacer which is something that the LSG and India support staff have worried about him.
Zaheer Khan, the former Indian pacer who was roped in as the mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants ahead of IPL 2025 seems excited to work with him. He said that the young pacer needs physical conditioning to manage the workload in the IPL and then in international cricket.
"You know a bowler of his calibre, to be able to play consistently for the long term, that's where I'm trying to put in all my efforts and energy, in terms of giving him the best environment which will really help him play longer without really taking these breaks. I think that's really important and that's the outlook which we have. So as much as we are keen on having him [play IPL 2025], we want him 150% fit not just 100% fit so we'll do everything possible to get him there" Zaheer had said.
LSG led by Rishabh Pant will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign against Delhi Capitals on March 24 in Visakhapatnam.
Also Read: IPL 2025 Ticket Booking: How to Book Online & Offline, Dates, Prices - All You Need to Know
