Mayank Yadav has had a tough few years. The 23-year-old dashing pacer has battled a series of career-threatening injuries that would have broken the spirit of many. But as IPL 2026 approaches, Mayank is back and, by his own admission, a completely different cricketer in terms of how he looks after himself.
Lucknow Super Giants pacer suffered a major setback during IPL 2024 before a a serious back injury ruled him out of IPL 2025 also. He has since undergone surgery and completed rehabilitation at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru. Through it all, one person has been a constant source of guidance: Jasprit Bumrah.
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“When I was in rehab at NCA, Bumrah bhaiya was also there. I have a very good bond with him. He is like a teacher to me. He also had the same surgery, the same scenario,” Mayank told JioStar’s IPL Today Live.
LEARNING FROM THE BEST
The fact that Bumrah underwent a similar operation made his advice all the more valuable. Mayank didn’t just have a world-class tempo in his corner. He had someone who understood exactly what his body was going through.
“Bumrah bhaiya shared his experience of coming back after surgery and what to watch out for. He told me how the body will be during recovery, how it will react. Sometimes it will feel good, sometimes not. Whenever we talk on phone or on messages, he shares his experience as much as possible,” Mayank added.
CHANGED CRICKET
The injury also forced Mayank to completely rethink his approach to fitness and recovery. He admitted that he had previously neglected to take care of his body, skipping recovery sessions and neglecting the basics.
“After the surgery, everything changed for me. I never took care of myself before. Whenever I had to undergo recovery, I avoided it and neglected many aspects. But after the surgery, I paid a lot of attention to recovery, nutrition and sleep. The more I respect my body, the more my body respects me on the field,” he said.
Mayank first discovered his ability to play at extreme pace when the IPL coaches shot him a speed gun. He attributes his love of fast bowling to watching Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn as a child, with his father often playing him videos of the two South African legends.
Now, with painful lessons behind him and Bumrah’s words fresh in his mind, Mayank Yadav is ready to roar again.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
23 March 2026 21:38 IST
