Mayank Yadav’s stop-start IPL journey hit another setback on Sunday, April 26, when Lucknow Super Giants dropped the express pacer from their home game against Kolkata Knight Riders.
LSG vs KKR, IPL 2026: Updates | Scorecard
The decision came after only one match Mayank is back in IPL action, highlights how carefully Lucknow manage one of India’s most exciting fast bowling prospects. Injuries over the past two seasons have repeatedly hampered the young pacer’s progress, forcing him into long periods of recovery and rehabilitation. Since rejoining the LSG set-up, Mayank has also been working closely with the BCCI Center of Excellence as part of its return to the game programme.
Even in his comeback appearance, there were encouraging signs. Mayank still had the pace that made him such a dangerous weapon, regularly reaching speeds in the high 140km/h range. That natural speed remains his greatest strength and a quality that makes him one of the most feared young speedsters in the country.
LSG vs KKR: CAN CONDITIONS PLAY A ROLE?
Despite the pace on display, Mayank’s comeback against Rajasthan Royals was far from convincing. The right-arm quick endured a difficult outing, finishing with figures of 0 for 56 in his four overs as Rajasthan’s batsmen targeted him aggressively and exposed his lack of rhythm.
At times, Mayank seemed to be moving away from his greatest asset, direct pace, and instead relied too much on slower balls and variations. The change in approach didn’t work, the Royals batters quickly lined him up. It was a disappointing spell that also seemed to leave skipper Rishabh Pant visibly frustrated on the field.
Conditions in Lucknow also seem to have played a major role in LSG’s decision. The black-soil pitch used for the game against Kolkata is traditionally known for favoring spin, so an extra-slow bowling option is a more logical choice. This tactical shift saw LSG bring in George Linde, with the all-rounder offering more value on a surface expected to assist the spinners.
LSG vs KKR: Playing XI
Kolkata Knight Riders Playing XI: Ajinkya Rahane (C), Tim Seifert (WK), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi
Lucknow Super Giants Playing XI: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (C/WK), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Mukul Choudhary, George Linde, Mohammed Shami, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Mohsin Khan.
LSG vs KKR: Impact Subs
Subs LSG Impact: Himmat Singh, Akshat Raghuvanshi, Abdul Samad, Avesh Khan, Manimaran Siddharth
KKR Impact Subs: Cast: Manish Pandey, Finn Allen, Tejasvi Singh, Navdeep Saini, Varun Chakravarthy
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
26 Apr 2026 19:28 IST
