LSG Pushes for NCA Decision on Mayank Yadav’s Status Ahead of IPL 2025
Pressure is building for Lucknow Super Giants as they prepare for the new IPL season, and it’s not about their batting this time. Their bowling arsenal is so depleted, team management is scrambling for viable options. In a move that's already stirring big debates, LSG allegedly asked the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to officially declare their young speedster, Mayank Yadav, unfit for the entirety of IPL 2025.
The stakes are high for LSG. Yadav, a tearaway quick known for his pace, was a big investment—retained for a massive ₹11 crore. But he’s been out since November 2024 battling a nagging back injury, throwing the team's bowling plans into chaos. Originally LSG expected Mayank to be back by late April, but cracks in their seam attack have forced their hand. According to folks close to the situation, LSG went as far as contacting NCA physicians, pushing for an official ruling of "unfit for the season." It’s not just a paperwork thing; if NCA signs off, it allows LSG to draft in a new quick—one left unsold after the recent IPL auction.
That's far from routine, though. A BCCI insider didn’t mince words, calling the request “unprecedented” and “shocking.” Never before has an IPL franchise tried to get a player ruled out en masse before a season even begins because of squad balance problems. LSG’s management, on their part, swears they’re just following the rules, denying any improper pressure or bending of protocols.
Injury Crisis Leaves LSG Pace Attack Exposed
But their desperate stance isn’t coming out of nowhere. Two other key LSG pacers—Mohsin Khan and Avesh Khan—are stuck on the sidelines. They’re both still awaiting the green light from the NCA. If you're wondering who’s left, the list is short. Only Akash Deep is fit and available as a frontline pace bowler. Their season opener is looming fast on March 24 against Delhi Capitals—and without proven pace support, LSG’s plans are in jeopardy.
So how did things spiral here? Injury timelines aren’t just about player health, they're also a chess game in squad management. The IPL's rules say injured players can be replaced if they’re officially ruled out, but the declaration must come from NCA doctors, not just a franchise’s wish list. With critical bowlers missing and the pace cupboard thin, securing a replacement for Mayank Yadav has become a priority for LSG leadership.
- LSG retained Yadav for ₹11 crore, expecting a key role.
- Mayank’s back problem has persisted since November 2024, derailing plans.
- Both Mohsin Khan and Avesh Khan remain unfit, reducing depth even further.
- With the clock ticking, only Akash Deep is fit for their opening match.
The wider cricket community is buzzing. Some say this puts pressure on the NCA to stick to protocols and avoid giving in to franchise demands. Others are worried this could set a precedent, turning IPL squads into revolving doors whenever injury concerns arise, not just for genuine inability to play. LSG, meanwhile, faces a crucial few days—will NCA make a call before their tournament start, and will they be able to patch up their thinned-out fast bowling lineup in time?
Questions over fairness, injury transparency, and the tension between team needs and player welfare are now very much in the open. Whatever the decision, this saga has exposed just how high the stakes are—and how fine the margins have become—for IPL teams gambling on young, high-speed talent.