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'I Was Struggling To Find Sponsor,': Pace Sensation Mayank Yadav Reveals His Pain After India Selection

LSG's Pace sensation Mayank Yadav gets maiden call-up [@CricCrazyJohns/X.com]LSG's Pace sensation Mayank Yadav gets maiden call-up [@CricCrazyJohns/X.com]

Pace sensation Mayank Yadav, who turned heads during the Indian Premier League (IPL) last season playing for the Lucknow Super Giants, has earned his maiden India call-up for the upcoming three-match T20I series at home against Bangladesh. 

Mayank, who claimed two Player of the Match awards in his four appearances for Lucknow Super Giants, picked up seven wickets in total. In an interview with the Times of India, the 25-year-old shared the unforgettable moment he discovered his name on the BCCI website.

“I wasn’t aware of the selection,” Mayank revealed. “But I saw my teammates receiving congratulatory calls, so I checked the BCCI website, and that’s when I found out my name was there.” 

The fast bowler also opened up about the flood of memories that hit him after the phone call with his mother. 

“Once I hung up, flashbacks rushed through my mind—from my first day at the Sonnet Club to the four difficult months spent at the NCA recovering from frequent niggles,” he added.

His journey in IPL 2024 was remarkable, particularly due to his ability to consistently bowl over 150 KPH while taking crucial wickets. However, his season was cut short by an injury during his fourth match, which ruled him out of the remainder of the tournament. After recovering, he faced another setback while training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and has been in rehabilitation ever since.

Mayank Yadav Reveals Gautam Gambhir's Career-Changing Advice

Mayank fondly recalled career-defining advice from India head coach Gautam Gambhir, with whom he worked in 2023 when Gambhir was the mentor for Lucknow Super Giants.

“Gautam bhaiya once told me that some players get multiple chances to prove themselves, while others may only get one. I was struggling even to find a sponsor for my shoes despite being in an IPL team and having played for Delhi. Gautam bhaiya’s words stayed with me. He and Vijay Dahiya (former coach at LSG) told me that I’d get my first game after one or two years. When the opportunity came this year, I knew I had to make it count.”

Mayank’s breakthrough came in IPL 2024, and after his debut, he received several offers for sponsorship, including one for his bowling shoes. He also praised Morne Morkel, the LSG bowling coach, saying, 

“Morne doesn’t speak much, but if he notices something, he’ll come over and point it out. Most of the time, he talks about strategy.”

Mayank will now reunite with both Gautam Gambhir and Morne Morkel in the Indian squad, having previously worked with the two during his time at Lucknow Super Giants in IPL.