Former India batter Manoj Tiwary feels that Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) tearaway pacer Mayank Yadav is ready to play for India at the T20 World Cup later this year. Tiwary's comments came after the Delhi-born pacer humbled the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter with his express. He clocked 156.7 kph during the game and bowled the fastest delivery in the ongoing edition and overall the fourth fastest in the history of the entire tournament. In his first two IPL games for LSG, Mayank has taken six wickets, conceding just 41 runs.
Speaking after the match between RCB and LSG, Tiwary said that if he was the selector, he would pick Mayank as India's third-choice pacer after Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.
"If I was in Ajit Agarkar's position I would put him in. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami and then him. Looking at Mayank's form, action and release it looks like he is in control and it feels like if you give him a bigger stage, he will deliver. With IPL where many overseas players do come in and get them out, your confidence will also go up," Tiwary said in a discussion on Cricbuzz.
Former India batter Virender Sehwag, who was also part of the discussion, also hoped that Mayank can play for India after the IPL, only if he remains fit.
"The difference between Mayank and Umran is that his lines are accurate. Umran was also quick but he wasn't able to improve on his line and length. Mayank's lines and lengths are accurate. He is well aware that he has the speed but if I get my lines wrong then I could concede boundaries. Just for that alone I feel that he should play international cricket after IPL if he remains fit," Sehwag added.
During the match against RCB, Mayank returned a remarkable figure of 3/14 which led him to his second consecutive Player of the Match award.
Mayank has established a reputation of constantly breaching the 150 kph mark. A 151 kph delivery left Maxwell gobsmacked, lured him to rush on his pull, forced out a top edge and made him walk back to the dressing room for a two-ball duck and 16th overall in the competition.