Mayank Yadav set for return to competitive cricket [Source: @MidnightMusinng/x]Mayank Yadav is set to make his return to competitive cricket after an extensive injury layoff. The 23-year-old last played any form of cricket by turning up for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise with a couple of appearances in the IPL 2025 season. Despite Mayank Yadav’s injury-prone nature, the fast bowler was retained by the LSG franchise for the upcoming IPL 2026 season. The cricketer will now reportedly be playing for the India A team during next month’s 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup warm-up fixtures. Mayank Yadav to be cleared by CoE after a simulation match As reported by a Times of India journalist, LSG fast bowler Mayank Yadav and fellow recovering cricketers Tilak Varma and Riyan Parag are set to receive fitness clearance by the CoE in Bengaluru. The report further stated that the three cricketers are scheduled to play a simulation match at the center on Friday, January 30. Upon receiving his clearance, there is a high probability that Mayank Yadav will be included in India A squad for the upcoming warm-up fixtures of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. As per the warm-up schedule of the 2026 T20 World Cup, the India A team will face USA on February 2 in Navi Mumbai and Namibia on February 6 in Bengaluru. Mayank Yadav’s struggle with injuries Mayank Yadav played just a couple of matches for the LSG franchise back in April and May last year during the IPL 2025 season. In his two innings, the youngster managed to pick just two wickets and conceded runs at an expensive economy of 12.50 and with an average of 50. Furthermore, the cricketer was ruled out midway into the season after suffering a back injury. He was subsequently replaced by lanky New Zealand paceman Will O'Rourke. Mayank Yadav also suffered a nasty injury shortly after making his Team India debut during a home T20I series against Bangladesh back in October 2024. The 150 kmph fast bowler was sidelined soon after, triggering another lengthy spell on the sidelines and stalling his momentum at the international level. Mayank Yadav preps up for IPL 2026 With a couple of opportunities knocking on the doors, Mayank Yadav will now be aiming to make the most his game time for India A in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup warm-up segment. The matches will serve crucial to his fitness as he prepares himself for the upcoming IPL 2026 season. Mayank Yadav was retained by the LSG franchise prior to the IPL 2026 auction late last year, even though the cricketer has played only a handful of matches for them in the last two editions of the tournament combined. The speedster was retained alongside the likes of Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, fellow out-of-favour Indian pacers Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan and others. The IPL 2026 season will likely launch on March 26 in a couple of months’ time, i.e., shortly after the conclusion of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
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