In just two career Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, the Lucknow Super Giants‘ (LSG) pacer, who hails from Delhi, has impressed not just by bowling consistently above 150kmph but also hitting the right lengths and line to trouble every batsmen he has bowled to.
The latest of his exploits came in LSG’s match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Tuesday, where the right-arm speedster took three wickets (3/14) to dismantle the RCB top order, leading to LSG’s victory over the home side at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
According to former Australian allrounder Tom Moody, Mayank is being discussed as a potential candidate for the coming T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in West Indies and USA from June 1 onwards.
“He is definitely in the conversation. Whether you take that risk punting on him or not is another conversation because you also need to consider what skillset you need in that reserve fast bowler – is it someone who is a powerplay bowler, or someone who has the ability to bowl at the death? All those subtle skillsets are important when you are talking about a T20 World Cup,” Moody told ESPNcricinfo.
Mitchell McClenaghan, former New Zealand pace bowler, also remarked that if Mayank maintains his current form, he will surely be considered for selection.
“If his form continues throughout this tournament, the World Cup starts six days after the IPL, I think it would be crazy not to look at the players who are in form going into that tournament,” McClenaghan said.
“He may not have the caps behind him, but if he continues this vein of form and can keep his pace up throughout the whole tournament and keep winning games – he has won two games in a row, his first two games – then you are right in the mix. Long shot, but you would not say never,” he added.
At the age of 21, the LSG seamer made history by becoming the first bowler in IPL history to win the ‘Player of the Match’ award in their first two matches.
Clocking 156.7 kmph against RCB, he delivered the fastest ball of the current season and the fourth fastest in IPL history, surpassing his own record set during his debut match against Punjab Kings, where he clocked 155.8 kmph while taking 3/27 in four overs.
Mayank’s potential as the next prominent Indian pace prospect is not solely attributed to his pace but also to his control over line and length, as well as his ability to intimidate opponents, demonstrated within just a couple of matches.
(With ANI inputs)