Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra opined that Lucknow Super Giants fast bowler Mayank Yadav looked undercooked after the franchise suffered a 40-run loss against Rajasthan Royals at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Wednesday. 

Yadav conceded 20 runs in the final over of the innings and returned with expensive figures of 0-56 in his quota of four overs. On the other hand, LSG’s pace trio of Mohammed Shami, Prince Yadav and Mohsin Khan, were right on the money. The pace trio returned with collective figures of 6-76 in their 12 overs.

“Mayank Yadav was playing here. There were four pacers and just one spinner, and they bowled incredibly at the start. Mohammad Shami was on a hat-trick. Mohsin Khan bowled a wicket maiden. Prince Yadav, he is so good. He bowled incredibly well. Only 76 runs were conceded in the 12 overs of pace, and they took six wickets,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“However, Mayank Yadav. He conceded 20 runs in the last over. He conceded 56 runs in total and didn’t get a single wicket. It seemed like he was undercooked, and that’s why one needs to play. How good you are has no value. How fast you can bowl has no value either. If you don’t agree with me, you can ask Umran Malik,” he added.

Chopra said Yadav looked rusty as he didn’t play any professional cricket before the IPL 2026 because of injury woes.

“The world doesn’t change by bowling fast. You need to play repeatedly, and this player hasn’t played. He played two matches in the last IPL, and after that, he didn’t play anything in the entire year. He played the IPL straightaway. How will it work out? Looked rusty. Eventually, he might find some form, but the team won’t be able to afford it,” he observed.

LSG will next take on KKR at Lucknow on Sunday.