IND v BAN 2024 1st T20I, Preview: All eyes on ‘x-factor’ Mayank Yadav as India gear up for Bangladesh T20Is
All eyes on ‘x-factor’ Mayank Yadav as India gear up for 1st T20I against BAN
Team India T20I Captain Suryakumar Yadav has hinted at Mayank Yadav’s potential debut against Bangladesh in the first T20I in Gwalior on Sunday (Oct 6). Speaking on the eve of the match, SKY called Mayank an ‘x-factor’, adding his express pace separates him from the rest. Though the skipper admitted he hasn’t faced him in the nets yet, he could see the potential in Mayank since his IPL days early this year.
Mayank emerged onto the scene during IPL 2024 when he bowled over 150kmph in his debut game for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) against RCB. His back-to-back three-wicket hauls in his first two games earned him the Player of the Match award but he got ruled out of the tournament with an abdominal injury soon after.
"He definitely has the X factor - it was evident when he played franchise cricket," Suryakumar said of Mayank ahead of the first T20I against Bangladesh in Gwalior.
"He has that extra pace. I didn't face him in the nets; our net plan was such that someone else faced him. But I have seen what potential he has and what difference he can make for the team. From that point of view, I feel he is a good addition to the Indian team, and I am hoping he will do well.
"It's important to manage him well because of the amount of cricket being played. Everyone is playing for their state too. There was the Duleep Trophy recently. So it is important to pay proper attention, and the BCCI is doing that,” he continued.
The Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior will host the first of the three matches, and given the stadium is staging its first international match, a surprise element conditions-wise awaits both teams. While Bangladesh captain Towhid Hridoy expects the surface to play ‘slow and low’, Surya thinks the opposite.
The pitch looks good," SKY said. "We practised on the centre wicket, just two pitches away. We didn't find it that low and slow - we practised all three days. So it [the match pitch] should not be much different.
"For T20 cricket, these are good wickets. There will be good competition [between the bat and ball], but at the same time, it looks good [for run-scoring].
Captain happy with all-rounders
Since winning the T20 World Cup in the Americas earlier in June, Team India won their two assignments, against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka since. Rested for the Zimbabwe series, SKY returned for the away SL series as a T20I captain, overseeing budding cricketers trying to make the most of the opportunities.
With Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag and Washington Sundar in the side, besides seam-bowling all-rounders Hardik Pandya and uncapped Nitish Kumar Reddy, SKY feels having more options to try from (all-rounders) is a win-win situation for India.
"It's good if your batters can bowl an over or two. I think there is hardly anyone in this squad who doesn't bowl. That gives you more bowling options on the ground. As you saw in Sri Lanka, Riyan [Parag] bowled four overs. If someone says he can bowl in the pressure situation, then why not,” Suryakumar concluded.
Meanwhile, the first match will begin at 7:30 PM IST.
(With inputs from agencies)
