Former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg has shared his views on how the Indian Premier League (IPL) may be contributing to young fast bowlers like Mayank Yadav becoming injury-prone. Mayank, who recently made his T20I debut, showcased his talent in the IPL 2024 season with his impressive pace. The 22-year-old participated in all three T20I matches against Bangladesh, taking four wickets with an average of 20.75 and an economy rate of 6.75.
Unfortunately, Mayank was unable to join the squad for the upcoming series against South Africa due to a back injury. In his inaugural IPL season, he could only play four matches. Hogg discussed Mayank’s situation and mentioned a trend where many young Indian players seem to focus solely on getting IPL contracts.
Hogg said, “Mayank Yadav is injury-prone because he’s young. He has only played one first-class match, meaning he doesn’t have much experience in longer formats. His pace is impressive, but many young Indian bowlers are trying to bowl quickly just to secure an IPL contract, which is their main goal.”
Hogg also pointed out that young fast bowlers often neglect building their stamina, which is crucial for sustaining performance. He noted, “Once they get that IPL contract, they forget about the longer form of the game. They don’t learn how to control their bowling or develop their endurance because they haven’t been trained for it.”
As discussions rise about the upcoming five-match Test series against Australia, many cricket experts have suggested including Mayank Yadav in the team. His speed could have made him a valuable asset on the fast Australian pitches. However, his injury has prevented him from joining the squad, leading the management to select Harshit Rana instead.
