IPL 2025: Mayank Yadav to Miss First Half of IPL 2025 Due to Back Injury

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) faced a major setback last night.  Young pace sensation Mayank Yadav is set to miss the first half of IPL 2025.  He is recovering from a lumbar stress injury. The 22-year-old fast bowler, known for his blistering speeds exceeding 150 kph, has only recently resumed bowling at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, where he has been rehabilitated.

Mayank’s injury woes began after his India debut in the T20I series against Bangladesh in October 2024. Due to a lingering side strain, his IPL 2024 campaign was limited to just four matches. During his recovery period, he suffered another injury, further delaying his comeback. Although he appeared in the Bangladesh T20Is, one more injury forced him back into the rehab centre.

The BCCI is not sure when he can make his comeback, but if he meets all fitness parameters, he could be available in the second half of IPL 2025. His absence is a major setback for LSG, who retained him for a big amount of ₹11 crore ahead of the mega auction for IPL 2025, which is a major hike of the initial IPL 2024 price of INR 20 lakh as an uncapped player.

Mayank won back-to-back Player-of-the-Match awards in his first two IPL 2024 matches by consistently showcasing his ability to clock speeds over 150 kph. His performances even earned him a fast-bowling contract with the national team.

Former India pacer Zaheer Khan, now LSG’s team director, emphasised the franchise’s cautious approach to Mayank’s recovery. “As much as we are keen on having him [play IPL 2025], we want him 150% fit, not just 100% fit,” Zaheer said.

Under new captain Rishabh Pant, LSG will begin their IPL 2025 journey against Delhi Capitals on March 24 in Visakhapatnam. While fans will be disappointed at Mayank’s fiery pace in the early stages of the league, they will eagerly await his return, hoping he regains full fitness to light up the league again.

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