Pace star Mayank Yadav left the field with a side strain after bowling just one over in Lucknow Supergiants’ IPL match against Gujarat Titans on Sunday. The 21-year-old came on in the fourth over as the Titans chased 164, but he exceeded 140km/h just twice in the over before leaving the pitch with LSG’s team doctors. Although LSG defeated GT by 33 points, he dropped 13 points in that game and has not returned to the game since. Later, Lucknow all-rounder Krunal Pandya said that the young pacer looked fine after coming off the field. “I had a brief conversation (with Mayank) and he seemed OK, which was positive. “Whatever conversations I’ve had, whatever we’ve seen, he’s got a head on his shoulders. It’s really nice to see him succeed in his career,” Krunal said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

In fact, it was a recurrence of injuries that kept him on the bench during Delhi’s Ranji Trophy season.

Mayank struggled with ankle and hamstring issues early in his career but made his IPL debut this season against Punjab Kings and his ability to effortlessly cross the 150kmph mark immediately impressed people. It left a deep impression.

In his second IPL match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, the right-arm fast bowler took 3 for 14 and bowled a speed of 156.7 kmph, the fastest in this IPL.

Mayank scored 155.8 against Punjab in the last match.

He has taken six wickets in two matches so far.

Former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop emphasized the importance of protecting Mayank.

“He should be well treated and protected because it’s such an early stage in his career. He should be stronger physically considering how fast he bowls,” he said.

“His team and national board should take notice,” Bishop said in his comments while giving an example of how Australia protected top pacer Pat Cummins after he suffered a lower back stress injury early in life.

Lucknow Supergiants put on a clinical performance and defeated Gujarat Titans by 33 runs.

Gujarat failed to chase down 164 and ended up with 130 as LSG’s pacer Yash Thakur (5/30) and spinner Krunal Pandya (3/11) Packed a punch.

For GT, only opener B Sai Sudharsan (31, 23b) could provide some resistance.

Earlier, Marcus Stoinis scored 50 runs while LSG posted 163 for 5.

LSG relied on the tireless efforts of Stonis (58, 43b, 4x4s, 2x6s) to reach a par overall score.

Other contributions came from skipper KL Rahul (33, 31 pigeons) and Nicholas Pooran (32, 22 pigeons).

For GT, pacers Umesh Yadav and Darshan Nalkande took two wickets each.