Srinagar: Former West Indies cricketer Brian Lara has suggested India’s new pace sensation Mayank Yadav to avoid becoming like another tearaway pacer of India Umran Malik.
Mayank Yadav has been in news since the start of IPL 2024 owing to his extreme pace that has blown minds of everyone who have seen him. Yadav has already picked up six wickets while conceding just 54 runs at an excellent economy rate of six runs per over, with best figures of 4 for 14.
Just two years ago, Sunrisers Hyderabad‘s Umran Malik was also creating headlines with his sheer speed. He earned a place in the Indian squad but has since fallen out of favor for both franchise and country. In contrast to Yadav’s early success in 2024, Malik finds himself on the bench this season, having lost his spot in Hyderabad’s playing eleven.
West Indian batting legend Brian Lara appeared on the Star Sports Press Room show. Since Lara worked closely with Umran Malik as the Batting Coach and Strategic Advisor for the Orange Army, he asked about protecting the talent of young Indian bowler Mayank Yadav to avoid a similar fate as Malik.
“Firstly, Umran Malik still has a promising career ahead of him. It’s not about becoming exactly like Malik, but developing your own strengths as a bowler. Mayank is a newcomer who moves the ball and has bounce, which can trouble batters initially. When you’re a young, quick bowler, it takes time for batters to adjust to your pace and bounce. Malik has been bowling brilliantly, but must keep improving his skills. He should realize batters will study him and strategize, so he must evolve to stay effective.”
“For me, he should always be ahead by taking counsel from elite bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah. By engaging with world-class bowlers in the IPL, he can gain invaluable insights to keep sharpening his game. With his talent and this proactive approach to self-improvement, he has all the makings of a truly great fast bowler.” stated Lara.