Mayank Yadav was hailed as India's new pace bowling sensation Wednesday after the tearaway youngster became the first player to win man-of-the-match awards in each of his first two IPL games.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Yadav bowled the fastest ball of the Indian Premier League season at 156.7kph (97.4mph) in a match-winning spell of 3-14 for Lucknow Super Giants against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It followed a blistering debut at the weekend when he sent down a 155.8kph thunderbolt on his way to figures of 3-27 in the victory over Punjab Kings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop called him a "kid bowling like a child of the wind" on social media platform X.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 21-year-old from Delhi's explosive performances have ignited calls for him to be selected for this year's T20 World Cup beginning on June 1, five days after the IPL final.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"My aim is to play for India as much as possible. So I feel this is just the start and my main goal is what I am focused on," said Yadav.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Former India quick bowler Irfan Pathan called him a "bloody exciting talent", while former Australia speed demon Brett Lee said Yadav was the "talk of the town".<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On Tuesday, Yadav's express deliveries accounted for Bengaluru's Australian dangermen Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green in the space of seven balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Stop what you are doing and watch Mayank Yadav bowl," veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle wrote on X, telling Lucknow they had "unearthed a gem."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Yadav dug in a length ball at 151kph which Maxwell could only top edge to mid-on before a length delivery crashed into Green's off stump.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"He has been an X factor in both the matches," former India opener Virender Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"He gets the top batsmen out -- it is Mayank's accurate line and length that impressed me," Sehwag added. "And because of that you can get him to play international cricket after the IPL."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lucknow picked up Yadav for his base price of $24,000 at the 2022 IPL auction but he only warmed the bench that season and missed the 2023 edition because of injury.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With just one first-class appearance, for Delhi in December 2022, Yadav's elevation from frail 15-year-old to a lightning quick match-winner is like a fairytale -- but his club coach said he had expected it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I was not surprised at all," Davendra Sharma told Indian outlet Sportstar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"He belonged to the big league because of his speed and the gift of bringing the ball in.<\/p>\r\n\r\n