Mayank Yadav: Rebuilding the 150km/h dream with an eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup

Mayank Yadav is batting against Zimbabwe. (AP) NEW DELHI: A video of Mayank Yadav training with Team India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill in Mohali recently went viral on social media. It comes after a quick shift of his training base to Chandigarh, where he works with Gaurav Sharma, the city-based physio who also serves as the head physio of IPL franchise Gujarat Titans (GT).“He approached me after IPL 2026. He trained for three weeks in Chandigarh before leaving for Zimbabwe. He got the desired results and is (now) training for the upcoming West Indies series,” Sharma tells TimesofIndia.com.Mayank has had a torrid couple of years since bursting onto the scene during IPL 2024 where he impressed with his raw pace. Then a barrage of injuries derailed his career. Last year, during one of the Ranji Trophy matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, he joked, “Lumbar fracture, lower back spasm, toe injury, side strain, hamstrings… barking at bhaiya, lambi list (the list is long),” he told a reporter as he got into his car outside the stadium.Mayank’s injury woes have been compounded by crazy setbacks, with the fast bowler picking up fresh injuries twice while recovering from another. In May 2025, for example, he injured his big toe after accidentally pressing it against the side of his bed, resulting in a laceration that later became infected.He made a comeback during IPL 2026 where his pace was low and trolling was instant. Former West Indies paceman Ian Bishop came to Mayank’s defence.“It’s scary to see the negative comments about Mayank Yadav today. The kid almost lost his career and livelihood at 21. Just seeing him play again is a huge boost. The fact he hit 150km/h again is a miracle. At 23, just pray for him to stay fit. The check will come,” Bishop wrote on X.Now, a few months later, those who have been following his progress closely say that the youngster is once again touching the 150km/h mark.“Mayanka is doing really well at the moment. He had a back injury. He underwent surgery for that and the body is taking some time. He has no injuries at the moment. I am just taking care of him so that he does not injure himself in the future,” says Sharma, who has also worked with Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Naman Dhir and Prabhsimran Singh.

Mayank Yadav

“The other thing is we’re working on his workload management. We’re increasing the workload slowly and steadily and he’s doing very well,” says Sharma.Mayank last played in the Delhi Premier League (DPL) where he made seven appearances for East Delhi Riders and picked up eight wickets.Mayank was found to bowl 10 overs in three and a half hours during his practice. Spells are divided into three. With the new ball, Mayank bowls five overs, then three and finishes with two overs. From the 60 balls he bowls daily, he consistently touches the 150km/h mark while his average speed remains in the higher 140s.

With Mayank, the first thing was how can we gradually increase his workload. And once his workload peaks, how do we manage it at that level so it doesn’t drop?

Gaurav Sharma | Head Physio, Gujarat Titans

Devender Sharma, who worked with Mayank during his formative years, says that Mayank has been told that he is ready for the 2027 ODI World Cup.“They want him to be ready for the longer formats as well. He has been playing almost 12-15 overs a day for the last six months,” says Devender.Gaurav explains how he planned the program for Mayank and how he goes through it day by day.“With Mayank, the first thing was how can we gradually increase his workload. And once his workload peaks, how do we manage it at that level so it doesn’t drop?” he explains.

Mayank Yadav Delhi Premier League

“So this is a day-to-day process. We assess what we want to see and then we’re able to do what we want them to do. That allows us to move forward day by day.”Above all, Sharma feels it’s all about confidence, especially when it comes to Mayank, who has been through so many injuries in his young career.“Working with a fast bowler is definitely a challenge. There are very different biomechanics with a fast bowler, so the chances of injury are higher. If we take into account the stress on the joints, muscles and body and understand the mechanics of the bowler, his activity and his lifestyle, he will be easier to work with,” he says.

Mayank Yadav

“And when it comes to Mayank, we are talking about an India player. The most important thing for them is confidence. He wants to know if I am able to give him that confidence and if I have the answer to the question he came to me with. I have to be very honest with myself.”“If I answer, I have to be absolutely sure that the answer is correct. It can’t be hypothetical. If I’m research-oriented and know what I’m doing, I should be able to prove it in the future. That’s the most important thing. Then when we work together, trust is built day after day, because the results of the evaluation are visible. That’s how things work,” he adds.For Mayank, the comeback is no longer about proving how fast he can mix. He has already shown that he can catch fire quickly. The bigger challenge now is to maintain that pace, build the workload needed for the longer formats and, most importantly, stay on the park. With the 2027 ODI World Cup in the near future, that process has begun.