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Mayank Yadav announced his arrival in the IPL 2024 with a sensational display of pace bowling that saw the youngster delivering the fastest ball of this year’s competition. During the match against Punjab Kings on Saturday, the debutant looked in sublime form and his 155.8 kmph scorcher left Shikhar Dhawan in a spot of bother. Mayank eventually ended up taking three crucial wickets as Lucknow Super Giants registered their first win of IPL 2024. While the young fast bowler shattered this year’s records, his delivery was not enough to earn him the distinction of being the fastest bowler ever in IPL. The 155.8 delivery was the sixth fastest in history of IPL with Australia’s Shaun Tait topping the list.

When it comes to Indian pacers, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Umran Malik holds the distinction with a 157 kmph delivery that he produced in the 2022 season. The other bowlers above Mayank Yadav in the IPL list are Lockie Ferguson and Anrich Nortje.

Fastest deliveries in IPL history:

Shaun Tait 157.71 kmph – 2011

Lockie Ferguson 157.3 kmph – 2022

Umran Malik 157 kmph – 2022

Anrich Nortje 156.22 kmph – 2020

Umran Malik 156 kmph – 2022

Mayank Yadav 155.8 kmph – 2024

Lucknow Super Giants bowling coach Morne Morkel said young Mayank Yadav generated some serious and disconcerting pace, which was a pleasing sight for the side as it aims to go the distance.

The 21-year-old Mayank bowled at a very good pace, with most of his deliveries clocking upwards of 150 as he got rid of dangerous opener Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh and Jitesh Sharma at a time when it seemed Punjab Kings would be runaway winners here.

Chasing 200 for victory, PBKS’ innings faltered despite Shikhar Dhawan (70) and Bairstow (42) putting up a century partnership thanks to the right-arm pacer’s willingness to give it his all.

Mayank, playing his maiden IPL game, returned miserly figures of 3/27 in his four overs, which broke the back of the PBKS’ chase.

“Young Mayank bowled serious heat and got the wickets. It was tough last year as he got injured after the first warm-up game. We’re managing him better. He ran in and that was the pleasing thing,” said Morkel, a former South African pace-bowling star.

“We asked the guys to do the basics well on a good wicket. Told him to stick to his lengths and use bouncers. Proud he ran in and bowled gas despite the humidity. How the wicket would play was an unknown, we had to sum up conditions and use them.”

(With PTI inputs)