Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pacer Mayank Yadav’s expensive return to action in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 after a year-long injury layoff drew sharp criticism online. But former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop has come out strongly in his defence, calling the negative comments for Yadav ‘horrifying’.
Yadav, 23, played his first professional match in 353 days against the Rajasthan Royals at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. Yadav had missed most of the last two IPL seasons due to recurring back problems. He had missed the first half of IPL 2025 and managed only two games before another back injury, which needed surgery in New Zealand, sidelined him for nearly a year.
“To see negative comments about Mayank Yadav today is horrifying. The kid nearly lost his career & livelihood at 21yrs. Just to see him play again is huge boost. The fact that he clocked 150kph again is a miracle. At 23yrs just pray for him that he stays fit. The control will come,” Bishop wrote on his ‘X’ account on Thursday.
