Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra hailed Mayank Yadav’s spell after Lucknow Super Giants defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 28 runs at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Tuesday.
Yadav returned with impressive spell of 3-14 in his quota of four overs and Chopra reckons the youngster will force the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel to think about him for the T20 World Cup squad.
Yadav has hogged the limelight for his extra pace and he clocked 156.7 kmph on Tuesday. The 21-year-old accounted for Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green and Rajat Patidar in his fine display of fast bowling.
The fast bowler from Delhi was awarded the Player of the Match and became the first player in the IPL to win back-to-back Player of the Match awards in his first two matches.
“Mayank Yadav’s pace once again arrested and demolished the opposing team. 155.8 kph in the last match and 156.7 now. I feel he will run very fast in the Purple Cap race. Secondly, although he might not be selected, he will force the selectors to think about him for the T20 World Cup,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“Three wickets on this ground. He hardly gave any runs in his four overs. He made it a 16-over game. He has already bowled one of the five fastest balls in the history of this tournament. He first dismissed Maxi (Glenn Maxwell) and the ball he dismissed Cameron Green with, that is the ball of the tournament,” the former India opener added.
On the other hand, the renowned commentator also showered praise on Quinton de Kock for his fine knock of 81 runs from 56 balls with the help of eight fours and five sixes. Thus, the southpaw played a key role in helping LSG post 181 runs on the board.
Chopra said, “My first performer of the day is Quinton de Kock. He was also with RCB. He batted extremely well, started with three fours in the first over. Then he hit two sixes when Mohammed Siraj bowled on his legs.”
“Then there was a plan to bowl to him outside the off-stump and force him to play shots in a different direction but there also he didn’t play a bad shot. You can say that he played a little slow, but in the context of the game, because you have to judge it based on the match’s result, very important runs,” the cricketer-turned-commentator added.
Lucknow Super Giants will next take on Gujarat Titans on Sunday at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow.
