'I have already texted Steve Smith' - Stuart Broad warns Australian star about Mayank Yadav's fiery pace

Mayank Yadav, the young fast bowler from Lucknow, has captured the attention of cricket enthusiasts with his stellar performance in the IPL 2024 match against Punjab. Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad lauded the control displayed by the 21-year-old, emphasizing his ability to maintain precise lines and lengths throughout his spell.

Yadav's fiery pace, consistently touching 150 kilometers per hour and even clocking 155.8 kph, posed a significant challenge to the Punjab batters. His exceptional bowling led to the dismissal of key players like Jonny Bairstow and Jitesh Sharma, ultimately securing three crucial wickets for his team while conceding only 27 runs in his four overs.

Broad commended Yadav's maturity on the field, noting that despite his natural pace, he remained focused on bowling accurate deliveries, a quality often lacking in young bowlers. The impact of Yadav's performance was evident as it disrupted Punjab's batting momentum, leading to a dramatic collapse from a strong position of 102 for no loss to a challenging total to chase.

“Obviously, he has natural pace, but his control of line and length was exceptional for a young bowler,” Stuart Broad told Star Sports.

“Sometimes, as a young bowler, you can come in and charge in with the emotion and try and bowl as quickly as possible. But the radar goes. But I thought his control of the lines was fantastic. Yes, Jonny Bairstow hit a fantastic shot to the backward of point when there was a bit of width. But, other than that, he really didn’t give the batters anything. When you see world-class batters like Jonny Bairstow, who have played all over the world, when they are getting rushed, you know there’s something special," he added.

Also Read: IPL 2024: Who is Mayank Yadav? - Everything You Need to Know About LSG Fast bowler

Lucknow successfully defended their total of 199, clinching a 21-run victory, with Yadav rightfully earning the Player of the Match award for his outstanding debut performance in the IPL.

“I am delighted to see him getting the Player of the Match. When you see a fast bowler getting the award, it brings a smile to my face,” Broad added.

You don’t need to get far ahead but I have already texted Steve Smith: Broad

Looking ahead, Broad humorously warned Australian batter Steve Smith about Yadav's formidable pace, suggesting that the Australian team should be prepared to face the young sensation during the upcoming Test series between Australia and India.

“You don’t need to get far ahead. But I have already texted Steve Smith. If you are seeing this guy in Australia in the Test series, get used to it,” Broad added.

With calls for Mayank Yadav's inclusion in the senior national team gaining momentum, his remarkable debut has undoubtedly placed him on the radar of cricket selectors. Alongside Yadav, Mohsin Khan's contribution with the ball, securing two wickets, played a pivotal role in Lucknow's triumph, showcasing the team's formidable pace attack.