Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra hailed Mayank Yadav’s performances in the T20I series against Bangladesh, which the hosts won by 3-0. Chopra feels the Indian team is pondering Yadav’s selection for the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
Yadav made his T20I debut against the Tigers and kicked off his career with a maiden over. The express pacer picked up veteran batter Mahmudullah’s wicket on his debut.
Overall, the Delhi fast bowler took four wickets in three matches at an average of 20.75 and bowled with an economy rate of 6.92. But Yadav has played only one first-class match for Delhi in which he has scalped two wickets.
“When we are talking about finds, Mayank Yadav needs to be spoken about. He has been fast-tracked. He has hardly played any first-class matches and he straightaway came into the Indian team. He had just returned from injury, hadn’t played any competitive cricket, and was suddenly playing for India,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“He is definitely one of the big positives because he is a part of the traveling reserves as well. I feel the Indian team are thinking about taking him for the BGT, to at least keep him with the team. However, I do feel it might be a little early because the repertoire of first-class cricket is not yet ready. Sometimes you go with a gut and say let’s try as he can make a difference,” Chopra added.
Chopra showered praise on Yadav for bowling with express pace and hitting the right areas against Bangladesh.
“He has got the pace, there is no doubt about that. He played all three matches, bowled his entire quota in all three games, and picked up wickets as well. He was even given the new ball in the last match. It was good because you give the new ball at the start at times, 25 runs are scored in the first over, and you say ‘Oh God’,” he reasoned.
The reputed commentator hailed Yadav for finding his rhythm with time as the series progressed.
“You feel deflated but that was not the case. His first over was a maiden. He bowled a bouncer on the first ball of the first over in the last match and dismissed the batter. He was slightly ginger at the start. He even said that he was holding himself back a little because he had come back from injury. I felt he was getting his rhythm in the last match,” Chopra observed.
India will next take on New Zealand in a three-match Test series, starting October 16.
