Pace, pain and patience: Mayank Yadav eyes IPL 2026 comeback

Following a long injury lay-off, Mayank Yadav returns fitter and wiser, determined to combine raw pace with control as he eyes redemption in IPL 2026.

The sharp thud of the ball into the wicketkeeper’s gloves during a recent Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) net session carried a familiar intensity. For Mayank Yadav, the young fast-bowling sensation who made headlines in 2024 with 156.7 kmph deliveries, it marked the return of a rare pace talent.

After a gruelling nine-month lay-off, which included specialised back surgery in New Zealand and a carefully managed rehabilitation programme at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, the 23-year-old is once again building rhythm. For a bowler whose rapid rise was repeatedly disrupted by injury setbacks, the journey back has been as much a mental challenge as a physical one.

In the last 10 months, Mayank has played only two competitive matches – both in the lead-up to India's T20 World Cup campaign in February when he turned up for India A.

But, working his way back to full fitness and confidence in the Lucknow Super Giants camp, the young fast bowler exudes a quiet, measured confidence that suggests the “scary” pace is returning.

"I am completely fine. I am on track. I don't have any issue," Mayank says, dismissing any lingering concerns. "Let's see, how fast I can bowl."

Mayank’s journey since his explosive debut has been defined by a frustrating cycle of stop-start momentum. After earning back-to-back Player of the Match awards in his first two IPL games in 2024, a lower abdominal strain sidelined him after just four matches. The 2025 season proved even more heartbreaking; despite being retained for a staggering Rs 11 crore, a recurring lumbar stress fracture and a subsequent toe injury limited him to just two appearances before he was ruled out entirely.