Leg and Off: Should LSG retain Mayank Yadav before IPL 2025 Auction?

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pacer Mayank Yadav made his international debut during the first T20I against Bangladesh at Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior on October 6. The right-arm pacer made an impressive entry into international cricket, registering figures of 1-21 from his four overs, getting the scalp of Mahmudullah. The very first over he bowled was a maiden!

The 22-year-old was retained in the Indian playing XI for the second T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on October 9. He did a decent job again, picking up 1-30 in his four overs, getting the scalp of Jaker Ali, as Team India won the game by 86 runs to clinch the three-match series 2-0.

While Mayank has made an impactful start to his T20I career, his international debut also means that he no longer is an uncapped player in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The prices of the five capped cricketers who can be retained ahead of the IPL 2025 auction are as follows - Player 1 - ₹18 crore, Player 2 - ₹14 crore, Player 3 - ₹11 crore, Player 4 - ₹18 crore and Player 5 - ₹14 crore.

In the wake of the above scenario, it is clear that Lucknow Super Giants will have to shell out a minimum of ₹11 crore if they want to retain the services of Mayank ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. Had he remained uncapped, LSG could have retained him at ₹4 crore. The question that now emerges, though, is whether the LSG franchise will find it worth retaining the fast bowler as a capped player.

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Has Mayank Yadav done enough to be retained as a capped player by LSG?

If we look at the Delhi-born cricketer's performance in IPL 2024, his debut season in the T20 league, the speedster player four matches and claimed seven wickets at an average of 12.14 and an economy rate of 6.99. Mayank made a sensational debut with figures of 3-27 in a match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Lucknow. He made an impact with his extra pace and was marked as an X-factor bowler.

In his very next match, the fast bowler came up with another brilliant bowling performance, registering figures of 3-14 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Mayank dismissed Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green and Rajat Patidar to be named Player of the Match for the second game in a row.

The fast bowler, however, sent down only one over in the game against Gujarat Titans (GT) and then walked off due to a side strain. He only played one other match in IPL 2024, which was against Mumbai Indians (MI) in Lucknow, in which he registered figures of 1-31, walking off the field after 3.1 overs, as his fitness issues cropped up once again.

To be frank, Mayank got picked in the Indian T20I team on the back of just two brilliant bowling spells in IPL 2024. The fact that he managed to make such a huge impact in just two matches is a credit to the bowler's talent. LSG are well aware of what the right-arm fast bowler brings to the table. However, they might just be apprehensive over the pacer's fitness, considering his history of breaking down.

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Ravi Bishnoi a better choice than Mayank Yadav as capped player?

Ravi Bishnoi bowling during IPL 2024 (Image Credits: Getty Images)

If we look at the options Lucknow Super Giants have with regard to retaining five capped players ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, Nicholas Pooran, KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Quinton de Kock seem like front runners. The choice for the fifth capped player could come down to a close tussle between Mayank and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi.

While the fast bowler grabbed the limelight out of nowhere in IPL 2024, the young leg-spinner has been a consistent performer in the T20 league for a few seasons now. Looking at Bishnoi's record in the IPL for Lucknow Super Giants, he is the leading wicket-taker for the franchise that made its debut in the 2022 season.

In 43 matches for LSG, the 24-year-old leg-spinner has picked up 39 wickets at an average of 31.53 and an economy rate of 8.30. Left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan (27) is second on the list, followed by right-arm fast bowler Avesh Khan (26). LSG will find it hard to ignore Bishnoi's credentials if it comes down to a two-way race between him and Mayank for one of the capped slots in the franchise.