LSG is set to begin its matches without four of its first-choice Indian fast bowlers, Mayank Yadav’s recovery setback due to a toe injury.
Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer is hopeful of Mayank Yadav’s quick recovery and is hopeful that the latter would be available for the “second half ” of IPL 2025. He said this after Mayank Yadav’s recovery from a back injury was delayed due to a toe injury.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will play their season-opening match against Delhi Capitals on Monday evening, without four of their first-choice Indian fast bowlers: Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, and Akash Deep. They are all injured to varying degrees.
On the eve of the game in Vizag, coach Langer said, “Yeah, we’re very aware that four of our bowlers are unavailable for the first game and probably a couple of the guys for a few games down the track. But that’s sport, that’s cricket, fast bowling usually gives you some headaches but you just have to adapt. And we’ve all been in the business long enough to know that the fast-bowling injuries is something that you always have to prepare for. You never hope for it, you never wish for it but you prepare for it. So, we might have to change our game plan a little, but knowing that as the tournament goes on, we’ll have some of these excellent bowlers to come back into our attack for us.”
While Yadav, who was signed by LSG last year has been troubled by injuries since he hit speeds of 150kph and won Player of the Match awards in his first two IPL matches in 2024. Another fast bowler, Mohsin, who was retained by LSG, has already been ruled out of the season and replaced by Shardul Thakur.
“Mayank, who everyone was very excited about last year, he was going quite well (coming back from a back injury), and he kicked his toe on the bed,” Langer said. “He got an infection in his toe. It’s put his rehab back about a week or two weeks. But he’s up and running. We regularly see videos of him bowling. I saw a video of his yesterday. So, hopefully by the back end of the tournament, Mayank will be up and ready to go for us.”
Meanwhile, Avesh Khan (knee niggle) and Akash Deep (back injury) are likely to miss the initial matches of the season. However, Langer was more hopeful of their quick returns.
He said, “Unfortunately, I think Mohsin sustained a small calf injury in his rehab. So, knowing that we had four guys out, we had to make that tough call on Mohsin. We think Avesh Khan will pass his right to play tomorrow morning through the NCA. So, if that’s the case, then he’ll be back sooner rather than later. Akash Deep is up and running, and bowling at about 90% now. I believe he’s done his yo-yo test. So, he’s really ticking off all the boxes.”
Playing under the leadership of Rishabh Pant, whom they bought for an all-time IPL record price of INR 27 crore at the mega auction in December, LSG will play its opening match of IPL 2025 on 24th March against his former team- Delhi Capitals.
Read More: IPL 2025: Hawk-Eye tech to assess head-high wides and off-side
