Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) speedster Mayank Yadav is set to miss the first half of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, as he continues to recover from a lumbar stress injury, according to ESPNcricinfo.
Injury and Recovery
The young pacer has been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru after sustaining an injury following his India debut in the T20I series against Bangladesh last October. Mayank has recently resumed bowling, but as of now, there is no confirmed return date. If he clears all fitness tests and builds up his workload, he may return in the latter half of the tournament.
A Big Setback for LSG
Mayank’s absence is a major blow for LSG, who retained him for ₹11 crore ahead of IPL 2025. The 22-year-old was initially bought for just ₹20 lakh before IPL 2024, but his impressive performances led to a massive rise in value.
Mayank made a name for himself last season with his raw pace, consistently hitting 150 kph, earning back-to-back Player of the Match awards in his first two IPL games. However, injuries restricted him to just four matches in the 2024 season.
LSG’s Approach to Mayank’s Recovery
Franchise mentor Zaheer Khan emphasized that LSG and the NCA are working together on a careful recovery plan. “We have had some interesting conversations around his roadmap to recovery and fitness with NCA. We hope for their support because he is not only important for LSG but also for Indian cricket,” Zaheer had said earlier.
LSG’s IPL 2025 Campaign
Under their new captain, Rishabh Pant, LSG will begin their IPL 2025 campaign against Delhi Capitals on March 24 in Visakhapatnam.