'You can’t wrap him up in cotton wool saying he will get injured' - Paras Mhambrey advocates regular practice sessions for Mayank Yadav

The future of Mayank Yadav and Indian cricket looked as luminous as ever after the 22-year-old paceman, Mayank Yadav, burst onto the scene while representing the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. His initial two games could not have gone better, as he bagged the Player of the Match on both occasions, which was his three-wicket haul on each occasion. However, a muscle tear against the Mumbai Indians rendered him sidelined for a "minimum of four weeks", which don't seem to have ended since April 30, 2024.

Former bowling coach of the Indian team, Paras Mhambrey, recently discussed Mayank's case and thought that insulating him from the outside world in terms of keeping him away from bowling was not the way to go for a youngster of the kind of potential that Mayank possessed. Mhambrey also suggested that domestic red-ball cricket is the bare minimum he should be involved in. 

“I don’t agree that if he is not ready, just don’t play him. This is the age where he has to bowl. A bowler should bowl. The more you bowl, the more you will have control, you will know your threshold as to how much your body can take. You can’t wrap him up in cotton wool saying he will get injured. We can’t overbowl and burn him out but we have to be smart about how much he should bowl. As a fast bowler, he needs to play first-class cricket,” Mhambrey told The Indian Express. 

Mhambrey further reasoned as to why Mayank should be more made to participate in the upcoming domestic season, providing valid explanations related to getting in sync concerning rhythm as well as the vital element of conviction in one's abilities.

Also Read: ‘Feel much better, feel much fitter’ - Mayank Yadav ready to return but won’t be rushed

“When you play one season, you understand your bowling. You bowl in different conditions. Physically, you will be tested in different phases of the game. Sometimes, you will have to be on the ground for six sessions. And to be able to bowl with the same intensity in the last session will give you confidence when you play at the international level. I strongly feel Mayank needs to grind it out in the domestic season,” mentioned Mhambrey.

The next three-four years will be extremely crucial for him: Mhambrey

The former Indian cricketer also noted that he was curious to infer the impact and progress Mayank would make in the short term, as opposed to dwelling on extended outcomes.

“I am not looking at the next 10 or 15 years. I want to see what he can do in the next five. The next three-four years will be extremely crucial for him. Once he is 25-26, he will understand his body much better. And then, he will have a good five years at the international level,” added Mhambrey.Mayank Yadav and Paras Mhambrey  

Also Read: Wasim Jaffer names Mayank Yadav as India’s potential dark horse for Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

Mayank opted out of the ongoing Delhi Premier League and is presently grinding it out at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.