Mayank 'definitely in the conversation' for T20 World Cup: Ex Australian Star Praised Mayank

Despite Mayank Yadav's limited IPL experience, talks have already begun around his potential inclusion in India's team for the T20 World Cup in June.

Mayank won Player of the Match after going 3 for 27 against Punjab Kings on his IPL debut on Saturday. Mayank's 155.8 kph was the fastest delivery of IPL 2024.

Tom Moody highly impressed with Mayank's performance

He improved it three days later at the Chinnaswamy Stadium against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He recorded a speed of 156.7 kph and went 3 for 14 to win Player of the Match for the second time in a row.

He is definitely in the conversation. Whether you take that risk punting on him or not is another conversation because you also need to consider what skillset you need in that reserve fast bowler - is it someone who is a powerplay bowler, or someone who can bowl at the death, all those subtle skillsets are important when you are talking about a T20 World Cup.
~ Talking on ESPNcricinfo's show T20 Time Out Live, Tom Moody said

McClenaghan and Varun are sure of his inclusion in the T20 WC squad

Mitchell McClenaghan, Moody's co-panelist, said if Mayank continues in the same manner, he would be "right in the mix" to join the T20 World Cup squad.

If his form continues throughout this tournament, the World Cup starts six days after the IPL, I think it would be crazy not to look at the players who are in form going into that tournament.
~McClenaghan said

He may not have the caps behind him, but if he continues this vein of form and can keep his pace up throughout the whole tournament and keep winning games - he has won two games in a row, his first two games - then you are right in the mix. Long shot but you wouldn't say never.

I think no matter what the chatter is, he should focus on one game at a time," he said. "Because that is going to automatically help him make his case. With the kind of work he has put in in the last two games, that does bring a lot of eyeballs but it has to be repeated over some time. In the T20 World Cup, I am sure, he is going to be a contender if he backs it up with a few more performances because he is bowling absolute gas.
~Fast bowler Varun Aaron also had the same view

Mayank was awarded with 2 POTM awards

Mayank is one of the most economical bowlers who has also stood with accuracy. Yesterday he took 3 wickets and has thrown 17 dot balls with no singles or wide.

What's so impressive is it's not only just the pace - it's like everyone likes seeing a Nicholas Pooran hit the ball out of the ground, it is exhilarating to watch - but it's his control," Moody said. "Not only he has got the control, but he looks like he has got quite a mature head on his shoulders with regards to how he is bowling, and what lines he is bowling and lengths he is bowling. He is a real find.

Aaron was highly impressed with Mayank's spell and praised him thoroughly.

Going into the game, we said that lines are going to be important," he said. "Not just lines, even lengths he adapted. He bowled a few yorkers, it's not just bowling back of length and being one-dimensional. The ball to Cameron Green was beautiful. He had hit him for a convincing pull of the previous ball.

I think he was a second late on that [wicket] ball. It just ricocheted off the stumps, I think it went one-bounce four. It is a great sign. He has got really good control. And he has got a repeatable clean action that enables him to bowl those lines time and again. Not a single cut, not a single ball down the leg side. Unbelievable.