Mayank Yadav has dominated the headlines this IPL season with his ferocious pace and intimidating hard lengths. However, he was not only strangely called on during the powerplay in the match against Gujarat Titans, but he also ended up giving up a couple boundaries while bowling just over 140 ticks. With a side strain, he was forced to leave the field and just bowled one over.
At that moment, the scene was set for a new hero, and Yash Thakur did not lose time in seizing the chance. The 25-year-old decimated the Titans batting lineup in the IPL by taking his first five wicket haul.
While Thakur’s speed may not be particularly frightening, his ability to vary lengths and pace is outstanding. With Mayank serving as the enforcer in this bowling attack, he is presumably the supporting cast, but the Vidarbha pacer didn’t seem to mind being the underutilized asset.
“After Mayank left, Rahul Sir assured me that I could win the game for the side and that this may be my day. At the press conference following the game, Thakur stated, “He advised me to support the things I can control and to stand by myself instead of worrying about the things I can’t.”
“It’s a gift from God because very few bowl as quickly as Mayank does. I am aware of my weaknesses and my advantages. I simply revert to my advantages.
“This season, I’m concentrating on making my plans clear. Rather than trying to think too much at once, I’ve tried to keep things simple. I’ve made an effort to limit my attention to the things under my control.
Since their debut in the 2022 campaign, LSG has gained recognition for their ability to protect totals, especially in situations where the scores aren’t particularly high. similar to how this fixture was. After reaching 163, KL Rahul’s team appeared to be ten or fifteen runs shy of a winning total on the Ekana Cricket Stadium’s playing field. The onus was all on the Super Giants as the Titans jumped out to a quick lead in the PowerPlay. Their comeback was sparked when Thakur trapped Shubman Gill with the last ball of the sixth over. The guests were never able to recover from the sudden and severe collapse that it caused.
“We thought the pitch was moving a little slowly and might continue to do so during the game. We talked about our plans, and we decided to follow them even though runs were being scored on them. We were seeing success with our modifications, and Rahul’s (the mentor) recommendation was to keep going,” Thakur remarked.
Thakur’s season didn’t get off to the best start because he was the victim of Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag’s successful pairing in Jaipur. He also suffered an expensive stint as a result of a certain amount of rustiness in his bowling. As a result, he was absent from Mayank’s debut game against Punjab Kings the following game; nevertheless, he was included in the starting lineup for the subsequent two games. If Thakur’s confidence increased during the Bengaluru match against RCB, then he was at his best when playing the Titans in Lucknow.
The Lucknow Super Giants has a domestic pacer pool that makes all other IPL teams jealous. The time is right for Mayank Yadav and Yash Thakur to take over this season, since Mohsin Khan and Avesh Khan did so last year. Not to mention that their squad includes Arshad Khan, Arshin Kulkarni, and Yudhvir Singh Charak, who was also unleashed the previous year.
With so many local fast bowlers in the team, Thakur is aware of fierce competition for a berth in the starting lineup. The jostling is about to escalate because Mohsin’s full recovery is not far off. When questioned if he would ever be in and out of the side, even with these kinds of performances, Thakur gave a casual, almost laid-back remark.
“I took part in the opening game of the tournament. It is what the captain and coach believe to be the optimal combination. For the team, they would know what is best. Therefore, it makes no difference if I’m playing or if someone else is. The team has to win the tournament and games eventually. So the best starting eleven has to start.
“I don’t worry about the expectations placed on me. Instead, I’m content when my team or other people anticipate that I will win games. I take pleasure in my role as the team’s game-winning strategist.”
